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The opening ball of an Ashes series proves significantly more than just a single pitch.

It represents a nerve-wracking three or four moments of sheer theatre, where every bit of the pre-series discussion ultimately ends.

"To establish the mood throughout the whole series would be really special," stated English bowler Gus Atkinson when questioned about the possibility this week.

"I understand we've witnessed multiple historic first-ball instances in Ashes cricket history. The opportunity to contribute to tradition seems incredible."

Like the bowler notes, that first delivery has created several of the most memorable Ashes moments - ones that seemed to establish that tone or minimum proved easy to reflect upon afterwards...

Cummins Smashing Past the Covers

Zak Crawley devoted the lead-up for 2023's Ashes contemplating striking that opening delivery for a boundary - about hoping to "make a message."

Australian captain Pat Cummins charged in at Edgbaston when the batsman hammered a drive past the covers to thunderous roars from the England crowd.

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

"I've been watching it from growing up and I realized a couple weeks out if if we won coin toss there would be a good opportunity to facing that ball."

"I chatted with Brooky about it while we played golfing in Scotland - saying it would be special should I get the first one away and deliver a statement."

England may not have claimed that series - and Australia dramatically took that first Test during last day - but it was a glimpse of how Ben Stokes' team planned to attack throughout the summer.

Burns and England Dismissed Early

That moment at Edgbaston has been one of rare first deliveries to go the way of the English, though.

Significantly more often they have been telling signs of the Australian superiority that was ahead.

On the 2021-22 series, Mitchell Starc bowled English opener Rory Burns with a leg-stump full delivery in the Gabba to become the initial pitcher claiming a dismissal on the first ball of an Ashes series since Aussie bowler Ernest McCormick in the 1930s.

The English build-up was lacking and in that moment of Australian jubilation England received a punch to their morale.

"My spirit just plummeted immediately," recalled paceman Stuart Broad, who was observing in the pavilion.

"You have prepared toward these matches and immediately, first ball, he is dismissed."

The Ashes were lost within 11 more days while Australia won the series four-nil.

Slater's Statement Delivery

It's additionally no surprise an Australian skipper who reveled in "mental disintegration" believed events were set through a similar incident twenty-seven before.

Steve Waugh with Australia aimed for their fourth Ashes series win consecutively as opener Michael Slater began the 1994-95 series with emphatically crunching English bowler Phil DeFreitas to boundary past the offside.

"It was like 'alright team here we go once more we have dominated already'," recalled the captain, who would play all five matches in a 3-1 home win.

"Psychologically it was like we are on top already so let's just continue pressing on. We understand how to defeat these guys."

Foreboding.

The Bowler's Dreadful Wide

But suppose that ball is just that - one in ten thousand or so beginning the contest?

The errant delivery Steve Harmison bowled to start the 2006-07 Ashes - where he sent the ball toward the hands of skipper Andrew Flintoff at second slip, nearly missing the pitch completely - proved the most iconic Ashes first ball of all.

"I panicked," the bowler explained journalists shortly after.

"I allowed the pressure of the occasion get to me. It all seemed so strange to me. My entire body felt tense."

"I couldn't get my grip from sweating. That initial delivery slipped out of my hands, the second did as well, then, after that, I had no rhythm, zero."

England claimed the 2005 Ashes 15 before but were resoundingly defeated 5-0. Some argue those Ashes were lost at that very instant.

"We weren't good enough to beat