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The opening ball of a contest proves much more than merely one ball.

It embodies an gut-wrenching two or three moments of sheer theatre, when every bit of the pre-contest hype finally ceases.

"To set the mood throughout the whole contest would prove really cool," stated England paceman Gus Atkinson after questioned about the possibility recently.

"I'm aware we've witnessed several historic opening-delivery moments during Ashes matches. The opportunity to add to tradition seems incredible."

As Atkinson observes, the first ball has delivered several of the most iconic cricket moments - events that appeared to establish the narrative and at least proved easy to reference later on...

Cummins Smashing Through Cover Field

Zak Crawley had spent the preparation to the 2023 Ashes series planning striking that opening delivery to four runs - regarding aiming to "deliver an impact."

Australian skipper Pat Cummins approached from the pavilion end and the batsman cracked a shot past cover field amid roaring cheers by English crowd.

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

"I've been following it from childhood and I knew several weeks before that if we won the toss it meant a good possibility of receiving that ball."

"I discussed with Harry Brook about it when we were playing golf in Scotland - that it would be cool if I could strike that first ball for runs to deliver an impact."

The English didn't won that series - while Australia dramatically took the opening Test during last day - yet it was a preview of how Ben Stokes' team would attack during that summer.

The Opener & English Bowled Over

That instance at Edgbaston has been among the few opening deliveries that went in favor of the English, though.

Much more frequently they've served as warning indicators regarding the Australian superiority that would be following.

During the 2021-22 tour, Mitchell Starc bowled English batsman Rory Burns via a half-volley in Brisbane becoming the first bowler claiming a dismissal with the first ball in a series since Australian seamer Ernest McCormick during the 1930s.

England's preparation had been poor and at that point of Australian jubilation England took a blow to the stomach.

"My emotion simply fell to the floor," recalled paceman Stuart Broad, who was observing from the dressing room.

"We had prepared for these matches then bang, first ball, he is out."

The series were lost in 11 additional days while Australia claimed the series 4-0.

The Opener's Impact Shot

It is additionally no surprise a skipper who reveled on "mental disintegration" thought proceedings were set by an identical event 27 years earlier.

Steve Waugh with the Australians were seeking a fourth Ashes series win in a row as batsman Michael Slater began the 1994-95 contest with emphatically driving England seamer Phil DeFreitas to boundary past the offside.

"It felt as if 'alright team we're off again we've dominated now'," recalled Waugh, who'd play all five Tests in three-one domestic victory.

"In our minds it felt as if we're on top now and let's just continue attacking. We know how to beat these guys."

Ominous.

Harmison's Horror Wide

However what if that ball proves just that - one in 10,000 or so to start the contest?

The wide Steve Harmison delivered to start the 2006-07 series - when he hurled the ball into the hands of captain Andrew Flintoff at second slip, almost missing the cut strip in the process - has become the most remembered Ashes first ball in history.

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

"I let the significance of the occasion affect me. Everything felt so unfamiliar for me. My entire being was nervous."

"I couldn't get my hands from being sweaty. The first ball flew out of my hands, the next did as well, then, following that, I possessed no consistency, zero."

The English claimed 2005's Ashes 15 months earlier but were comprehensively defeated 5-0. Some argue those Ashes were lost in that very moment.

"We simply weren't good enough to beat