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The first delivery in a series represents significantly more rather than just one ball.

It signifies an heart-pounding three or four moments filled with sheer theatre, when all of pre-contest discussion ultimately ends.

"To establish that tone for the whole contest would be truly special," commented English paceman Gus Atkinson when questioned about the prospect recently.

"I understand there have been several memorable opening-delivery moments in Ashes matches. The chance to add to legacy would be amazing."

Like Atkinson explains, the opening ball has delivered many of the truly memorable cricket instances - ones that seemed to set the tone or at least proved convenient to reference later on...

Cummins Driving Past Cover Field

Zak Crawley devoted the lead-up for 2023's Ashes series thinking about driving that first ball to four runs - regarding wanting to "make a statement."

Australian skipper Pat Cummins charged in from the pavilion end when Crawley hammered a drive through the covers to deafening applause from English fans.

"I've always remained a big admirer of the opening delivery in the Ashes," Crawley explained.

"I've been observing it since youth so I knew a couple of weeks out if should we won the toss there would be a strong opportunity of facing that ball."

"I talked to Harry Brook regarding this when we were golfing in Scotland - saying it could be amazing if I could get that first ball for runs to deliver an impact."

England didn't won that contest - and Australia thrillingly took the opening match on the final day - but it proved a preview at the way Ben Stokes' side would attack during the series.

The Opener and England Bowled Over

That instance in Edgbaston proved one of the few first deliveries to go the way of England, however.

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

During the 2021-22 series, Mitchell Starc dismissed English batsman Rory Burns via a full delivery at Brisbane to become the first pitcher to take a dismissal with the first ball in a series since Aussie seamer Ernest McCormick during 1936.

England's preparation had been inadequate so in that instant of Aussie elation England took a hit to the stomach.

"My emotion just fell dramatically," recalled paceman Stuart Broad, who was observing in the dressing room.

"You have built for these matches then bang, first ball, he is dismissed."

The Ashes were lost within eleven more days and the Australians won the contest 4-0.

Slater's Impact Shot

It is also unsurprising a captain who thrived in "mental disintegration" thought events were set through a similar incident 27 years earlier.

Steve Waugh with Australia aimed for their fourth Ashes win in a row as batsman Michael Slater started the 1994-95 contest by emphatically driving England bowler Phil DeFreitas to boundary through backward point.

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

"In our minds it was like we are on top already and let's just continue pressing on. We know how to defeat these guys."

Foreboding.

Harmison's Horror Delivery

But suppose that delivery proves just that - one in 10,000 or so beginning the contest?

The wide Steve Harmison delivered to begin 2006's Ashes - when he sent the delivery toward the hands of captain Andrew Flintoff in the slips, almost avoiding the pitch in the process - has become the most famous Ashes first ball ever.

"I froze," the bowler told media shortly afterwards.

"I let the enormity of the occasion affect me. Everything seemed so strange for me. My entire being was nervous."

"I could not stop my grip to stop sweating. The first ball slipped out of my grasp, the second also slipped, and, after that, I possessed no rhythm, nothing."

England had won 2005's series fifteen months earlier but were comprehensively defeated five-nil. Some contend those series ended at that exact instant.

"We weren't good enough to defeat