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The first delivery in a series is much more than just a single delivery.

It embodies a gut-wrenching two or four seconds filled with sheer theatre, when all of pre-match hype finally ceases.

"To establish that atmosphere throughout the entire series would prove truly special," remarked England paceman Gus Atkinson when questioned about this prospect lately.

"I'm aware we've witnessed numerous historic first-ball instances during Ashes cricket history. The chance to add to history would be amazing."

Like the bowler explains, the opening ball has created many of the most iconic Ashes moments - events that appeared to define that tone or at least proved easy to reference afterwards...

The Captain Driving Through Cover Field

Zak Crawley dedicated the lead-up for the 2023 Ashes series planning hitting the opening delivery for a boundary - about aiming to "create a statement."

Australia captain Pat Cummins approached from Edgbaston and Crawley hammered a drive through cover field to deafening cheers by the England supporters.

"I've always been a big admirer regarding the first ball in the Ashes," Crawley explained.

"I was following them from childhood so I knew a couple weeks out if if we won coin toss there would be a strong chance of receiving that ball."

"I talked to Harry Brook about this when we were golfing on course - that it would be cool should I strike that first ball away to make a statement."

England didn't won the contest - and Australia thrillingly won that first match on the final day - yet it proved a glimpse at the way Stokes' team would attack throughout the series.

The Opener & English Bowled Over

That occasion at Birmingham proved among rare opening deliveries that went the way of England, however.

Significantly more frequently they've served as warning signs of Australia's superiority that was ahead.

During 2021's series, Mitchell Starc dismissed England opener Rory Burns with a full delivery in Brisbane becoming the first bowler claiming a dismissal on the opening delivery of a series after Aussie seamer Ernest McCormick in 1936.

The English preparation was inadequate and in that instant during Aussie celebration the tourists received a hit to the stomach.

"My emotion just fell immediately," said bowler Stuart Broad, watching observing from the dressing room.

"You have built for these matches and bang, opening delivery, he's dismissed."

The series were lost in eleven more days and the Australians claimed the contest four-nil.

The Opener's Statement Shot

It's additionally unsurprising a captain who thrived in "psychological warfare" believed proceedings were set by a similar incident 27 before.

Steve Waugh and Australia were seeking a fourth Ashes win in a row when batsman Michael Slater started 1994's series with decisively hitting English bowler Phil DeFreitas for four through backward point.

"It felt like 'alright boys we're off again we have got them already'," recalled the captain, who would play all five Tests in a 3-1 home victory.

"Psychologically it felt like we're on top now so we should keep attacking. We know how to beat this team."

Ominous.

Harmison's Dreadful Wide

However what if the first delivery is just that - one in 10,000 or so to start the contest?

The errant delivery Steve Harmison bowled to start 2006's Ashes - where he sent the delivery toward the grasp of captain Andrew Flintoff in the slips, nearly missing the cut strip in the process - proved the most remembered Ashes series first ball in history.

"I froze," the bowler told media soon after.

"I let the pressure of the occasion overwhelm me. Everything seemed so alien for me. My entire body felt tense."

"I couldn't get my hands to stop sweating. The first ball flew out of my grasp, the next also slipped, and, following that, I possessed no rhythm, zero."

England claimed 2005's series 15 before but were resoundingly beaten five-nil. Some argue those series were lost in that very instant.

"We simply weren't skilled enough to beat