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The first delivery of an Ashes contest represents far more rather than just a single ball.

It signifies an heart-pounding two or four seconds of pure drama, when all of pre-match talk finally ends.

"To establish that mood for the whole series would prove really special," commented England bowler Gus Atkinson after questioned about the prospect recently.

"I'm aware history shows multiple historic opening-delivery occasions in Ashes matches. The chance to join that history seems amazing."

As Atkinson observes, that opening delivery has created some of the truly historic Ashes occasions - events that seemed to establish the storyline and minimum proved convenient to reference afterwards...

Cummins Crashing Past the Covers

Zak Crawley dedicated his build-up to the 2023 Ashes series contemplating hitting that first ball for a boundary - about aiming to "create a statement."

Australia skipper Pat Cummins approached from Edgbaston and the batsman drilled a shot through cover field to thunderous cheers by English fans.

"I've long been an enormous fan of the opening delivery in Ashes cricket," Crawley explained.

"I've been observing it since growing up and I realized several weeks out that if we won the toss it meant an excellent chance of receiving that ball."

"I talked with Brooky about it when we played playing golf on course - saying it could be special should I hit that first ball for runs to make a statement."

The English didn't won the contest - and Australia dramatically took the opening Test during the final day - yet it was a preview at the way Stokes' side planned to attack during that summer.

Burns & English Bowled Over

This instance at Birmingham has been among the few opening salvos that went in favor of the English, however.

Significantly more frequently they've served as telling signs regarding Australia's superiority that would be to come.

On 2021's series, Mitchell Starc bowled English opener Rory Burns via a half-volley at the Gabba to become the initial bowler to take a dismissal with the opening delivery in a series since Aussie seamer Ernest McCormick in the 1930s.

England's build-up was lacking so in that moment during Australian celebration England took a hit to the stomach.

"My confidence just fell to the floor," said bowler Stuart Broad, who was watching in the pavilion.

"We had prepared for these matches then immediately, first ball, he's out."

The series were lost in 11 more days while Australia claimed the series four-nil.

Slater's Statement Delivery

It is also unsurprising a skipper who thrived on "psychological warfare" believed proceedings were determined through a similar event twenty-seven before.

Steve Waugh with the Australians aimed for a fourth Ashes win consecutively as opener Michael Slater began the 1994-95 contest with emphatically crunching English seamer Phil DeFreitas for four past the offside.

"It felt as if 'alright boys we're off again we have got them now'," recalled the captain, who would feature every Tests in a 3-1 home win.

"In our minds it felt like we are dominant now and we should keep attacking. We know how we defeat this team."

Foreboding.

Harmison's Dreadful Wide

But suppose the first delivery is just that - one in 10,000 or more to start the contest?

The errant delivery Steve Harmison delivered to start the 2006-07 Ashes - when he hurled the ball toward the hands of skipper Andrew Flintoff in second slip, almost missing the cut strip in the process - became the most famous Ashes opener of all.

"I panicked," the bowler explained media shortly afterwards.

"I allowed the enormity of the moment overwhelm me. Everything felt so alien to me. My whole body was nervous."

"I couldn't get my grip to stop being sweaty. That initial delivery slipped from my hands, the second did as well, then, following that, I possessed no consistency, nothing."

The English had won the 2005 Ashes fifteen before yet were comprehensively beaten five-nil. Some contend that series ended at that very moment.

"We weren't skilled enough to defeat