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The opening ball in a contest proves much more than merely a single pitch.

It signifies an heart-pounding two or four moments filled with pure theatre, where every bit of pre-series talk ultimately ends.

"To set that mood throughout the entire contest would prove truly special," remarked English bowler Gus Atkinson after questioned regarding this possibility lately.

"I know history shows several historic first-ball instances in Ashes cricket history. The opportunity to join to history seems amazing."

As Atkinson notes, that opening ball has delivered some of the truly memorable Ashes moments - events that seemed to define the narrative and at least became easy to look back on afterwards...

The Captain Crashing Past the Covers

Zak Crawley devoted his build-up to the 2023 Ashes series thinking about hitting that opening delivery for a boundary - regarding hoping to "make a statement."

Australian captain Pat Cummins approached at the pavilion end when Crawley cracked a drive past the covers to roaring applause by the England crowd.

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

"I was observing it from youth and I realized a couple of weeks out if if we won the toss there would be an excellent chance of receiving that ball."

"I discussed to Harry Brook about this when we were golfing on course - saying it could be special should I hit that first ball for runs to deliver an impact."

England didn't won the series - while the Australians dramatically took that first match during last day - yet it was a glimpse of how Stokes' team planned to attack throughout that summer.

Burns & England Dismissed Early

This occasion in Birmingham proved among rare first salvos to go the way of the English, however.

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

During 2021's tour, Mitchell Starc dismissed English opener Rory Burns with a leg-stump full delivery at Brisbane becoming the initial bowler to take a dismissal on the opening delivery in a series after Aussie bowler Ernest McCormick in the 1930s.

The English preparation had been lacking so at that instant during Aussie celebration the tourists took a hit psychologically.

"My confidence simply plummeted to the floor," said bowler Stuart Broad, watching observing from the pavilion.

"You have prepared toward this series and immediately, opening delivery, he is dismissed."

The Ashes were gone in eleven additional days while Australia won the contest 4-0.

Slater's Impact Shot

It is additionally unsurprising a captain who reveled in "psychological warfare" thought proceedings were determined by an identical incident 27 years earlier.

Steve Waugh and Australia were seeking their fourth Ashes series victory in a row when batsman Michael Slater started 1994's contest with emphatically hitting English bowler Phil DeFreitas to boundary through backward point.

"It was as if 'alright team we're off again we have dominated already'," said Waugh, who would feature all five Tests during a 3-1 home win.

"In our minds it felt like we're on top already and we should continue pressing on. We know how to defeat these guys."

Ominous.

The Bowler's Dreadful Delivery

But what if the first ball is just that - a single in 10,000 or so to start the series?

The wide Steve Harmison delivered to begin 2006's Ashes - when he sent the ball into the grasp of skipper Andrew Flintoff at the slips, nearly avoiding the cut strip in the process - became the most remembered Ashes series first ball in history.

"I froze," Harmison explained media soon afterwards.

"I allowed the pressure of the occasion get to me. It all seemed so alien for me. My whole body felt tense."

"I could not stop my grip from sweating. The first ball flew from my grasp, the second also slipped, and, following that, I had no control, zero."

England had won 2005's Ashes fifteen before but were comprehensively defeated five-nil. Some contend that series were lost at that very moment.

"We weren't good enough to defeat