🔗 Share this article

The opening ball in a series proves significantly more than just one delivery.

It embodies an gut-wrenching two to four seconds of sheer drama, when every bit of pre-contest hype finally ends.

"To define that tone for the entire contest would be really cool," commented English bowler Gus Atkinson when questioned about this prospect recently.

"I understand history shows multiple iconic opening-delivery instances in Ashes matches. The chance to contribute that tradition seems cool."

As the bowler observes, the opening ball has created several of the truly historic cricket instances - ones that seemed to define the storyline or at least proved convenient to reference later on...

The Captain Crashing Through the Covers

Zak Crawley dedicated his lead-up to the 2023 Ashes series contemplating striking the opening delivery to four runs - about wanting to "make an impact."

Australia skipper Pat Cummins charged in from the pavilion end when the batsman cracked a drive through the covers amid thunderous roars by English crowd.

"I've always been an enormous fan of the opening delivery of the Ashes," the opener shared.

"I was following it since youth and I realized a couple weeks out that should we won the toss there would be a good opportunity of receiving it."

"I discussed to Harry Brook about it while we were playing golf on course - that it would be amazing if I could hit that first ball for runs to make a statement."

England may not have claimed that contest - and Australia thrillingly took that first Test on the final day - but it was a hint of the way Stokes' side would play aggressively throughout that summer.

Burns and England Bowled Over

This moment in Edgbaston remains among the few first salvos to go the way of the English, though.

Significantly more typically they've served as warning indicators of Australia's dominance that was to come.

On 2021's series, Mitchell Starc dismissed English opener Rory Burns via a half-volley at Brisbane becoming the first bowler to take a dismissal on the first ball in a series since Australian bowler Ernest McCormick during 1936.

The English build-up was lacking and at that point during Australian elation the tourists took a hit psychologically.

"My spirit simply dropped dramatically," recalled paceman Stuart Broad, who was observing in the pavilion.

"We had built toward these matches then bang, opening delivery, he's out."

The Ashes were gone within 11 additional days and the Australians claimed the contest four-nil.

The Opener's Statement Delivery

It is also no surprise an Australian captain who reveled on "mental disintegration" believed proceedings were determined by a similar incident twenty-seven prior.

Steve Waugh and Australia were seeking a fourth Ashes series win in a row as opener Michael Slater began 1994's contest with emphatically driving England seamer Phil DeFreitas to boundary through the offside.

"It was like 'okay boys we're off again we have dominated already'," said the captain, who'd play every Tests during a 3-1 home win.

"Psychologically it felt as if we're on top now so let's just continue attacking. We know how we beat these guys."

Significant.

Harmison's Dreadful Wide

But suppose the first ball is only that - one among ten thousand or more beginning the contest?

The wide Steve Harmison delivered to start 2006's series - when he bowled the delivery toward the grasp of skipper Andrew Flintoff in second slip, almost missing the pitch completely - has become the most remembered Ashes series first ball ever.

"I panicked," Harmison told journalists shortly after.

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

"I could not get my grip from sweating. That initial delivery flew from my hands, the next did as well, then, after that, I possessed no control, nothing."

The English had won the 2005 series fifteen before but were resoundingly defeated 5-0. Some contend those series ended at that very moment.

"We weren't prepared enough to defeat