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The opening ball of an Ashes series proves much more rather than simply a single delivery.

It signifies an gut-wrenching two or four seconds of pure excitement, where all of the pre-series talk ultimately ends.

"To set that mood throughout the whole series would be truly cool," commented England bowler Gus Atkinson after asked about the prospect recently.

"I know history shows several memorable first-ball moments in Ashes cricket history. The chance to join to history seems incredible."

As the bowler observes, the first ball has produced many of the truly iconic Ashes occasions - events that seemed to define that narrative or at least proved easy to reference afterwards...

Cummins Crashing Through Cover Field

Zak Crawley devoted the build-up for 2023's Ashes series thinking about striking that opening delivery to four runs - regarding aiming to "make a message."

Australian skipper Pat Cummins ran in at the pavilion end when Crawley drilled a shot past cover field amid roaring applause by the England crowd.

"I've long been a big fan of the first ball in the Ashes," Crawley shared.

"I was observing them since growing up so I realized a couple of weeks out that should we won coin toss there would be a good opportunity to facing that ball."

"I talked to Harry Brook regarding this when we played golfing on course - saying it could be cool if I could get that first ball away and deliver a statement."

The English didn't claimed that contest - and the Australians thrillingly won the opening match during last day - yet it was a glimpse at how Ben Stokes' team planned to play aggressively during that summer.

The Opener & England Dismissed Early

That moment at Birmingham remains among rare opening salvos that went in favor of the English, though.

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

On 2021's series, Mitchell Starc dismissed English batsman Rory Burns via a leg-stump half-volley at Brisbane becoming the first bowler to take a dismissal on the opening delivery of an Ashes series since Australian bowler Ernest McCormick in 1936.

England's preparation was lacking and in that instant of Australian elation England received a hit psychologically.

"My emotion just dropped to the floor," said bowler Stuart Broad, who was observing in the pavilion.

"You have prepared for this series then immediately, first ball, he's out."

The Ashes were lost in 11 more days and the Australians claimed the contest four-nil.

Slater's Impact Delivery

It is also no surprise a captain who thrived in "psychological warfare" thought events were determined through a similar moment twenty-seven before.

Steve Waugh with the Australians were seeking a fourth Ashes series win consecutively when opener Michael Slater began 1994's series with decisively driving English bowler Phil DeFreitas for four past the offside.

"It felt like 'alright boys we're off again we've got them already'," recalled the captain, who would feature every Tests in three-one domestic win.

"In our minds it felt as if we're on top already so we should keep pressing on. We understand how to beat these guys."

Ominous.

The Bowler's Dreadful Wide

But what if that ball proves only that - a single among 10,000 or more beginning the contest?

The errant delivery Steve Harmison bowled to begin 2006's Ashes - where he hurled the ball toward the hands of skipper Andrew Flintoff at the slips, almost missing the pitch in the process - has become the most famous Ashes series opener of all.

"I froze," Harmison explained journalists shortly afterwards.

"I let the pressure of the moment get to me. It all felt so alien to me. My whole body was nervous."

"I couldn't get my grip from sweating. That initial delivery slipped from my hands, the second did as well, and, after that, I had no control, nothing."

England claimed 2005's Ashes 15 before yet were comprehensively defeated five-nil. Some contend that series were lost at that exact moment.

"We weren't prepared enough to defeat