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The first delivery of a series is far more than merely one delivery.

It represents an heart-pounding three to four moments filled with sheer theatre, where every bit of pre-match talk ultimately ends.

"To set that atmosphere throughout the entire series would be really special," remarked England bowler Gus Atkinson when questioned about the possibility lately.

"I'm aware we've witnessed multiple historic first-ball moments in Ashes cricket matches. The possibility to add that legacy seems amazing."

As the bowler notes, the first ball has produced some of the truly memorable cricket instances - ones that appeared to set that storyline or at least became easy to look back on afterwards...

Cummins Smashing Past the Covers

Zak Crawley had spent the lead-up for 2023's Ashes series contemplating hitting that opening delivery for four runs - regarding wanting to "create a message."

Australia captain Pat Cummins charged in from Edgbaston and the batsman drilled a drive past the covers to thunderous applause by English fans.

"I've long remained a huge fan regarding the first ball of Ashes cricket," the opener revealed.

"I was following them from childhood so I realized a couple of weeks before that should we won coin toss it meant a good chance to receiving it."

"I chatted with Harry Brook about it while we played playing golf in Scotland - saying it would be cool if I could strike that first ball away to deliver a statement."

The English didn't claimed that contest - while the Australians dramatically won that first match during last day - yet it proved a glimpse of how Stokes' team would attack throughout the summer.

The Opener and English Bowled Over

That moment in Edgbaston remains one of rare opening salvos that went the way of England, though.

Far more typically they have been telling signs regarding Australia's superiority that would be following.

On 2021's series, Mitchell Starc bowled England opener Rory Burns with a full delivery in Brisbane to become the first bowler to take a wicket with the first ball in an Ashes series since Australian seamer Ernest McCormick during the 1930s.

England's build-up had been inadequate and in that moment during Aussie jubilation the tourists took a blow psychologically.

"My spirit just plummeted to the floor," said paceman Stuart Broad, watching observing from the dressing room.

"You have built toward this series and bang, opening delivery, he's out."

The Ashes were gone within 11 more days and Australia won the contest four-nil.

Slater's Statement Shot

It's also no surprise a captain who thrived on "psychological warfare" believed events were determined through an identical event 27 before.

Steve Waugh with Australia aimed for a fourth Ashes win consecutively as opener Michael Slater started the 1994-95 contest with emphatically hitting English seamer Phil DeFreitas for four past backward point.

"It was like 'okay boys here we go once more we've got them now'," recalled Waugh, who'd play all five matches in three-one home victory.

"In our minds it felt as if we're dominant now and let's just continue hammering away. We understand how to defeat these guys."

Foreboding.

The Bowler's Dreadful Wide

However what if that ball proves only that - one among ten thousand or more to start the series?

The wide Steve Harmison delivered to start 2006's Ashes - when he bowled the ball into the hands of skipper Andrew Flintoff in the slips, almost avoiding the cut strip completely - has become the most famous Ashes first ball in history.

"I panicked," the bowler told media soon afterwards.

"I allowed the pressure of the moment get to me. It all felt so alien to me. My entire being was nervous."

"I could not get my hands to stop sweating. That initial delivery slipped from my grasp, the next did as well, then, after that, I had no rhythm, nothing."

England had won the 2005 series fifteen months earlier yet were comprehensively defeated five-nil. Many contend those series were lost in that very instant.

"We weren't prepared enough to beat