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That initial delivery in a series is far more rather than merely one pitch.

It represents a nerve-wracking two or four seconds filled with sheer theatre, where every bit of pre-contest hype ultimately concludes.

"To set that mood throughout the whole series would prove really cool," commented English bowler Gus Atkinson when asked about this prospect lately.

"I understand there have been multiple memorable opening-delivery instances in Ashes cricket history. The possibility to join that history would be incredible."

Like Atkinson observes, that first delivery has produced some of the truly memorable cricket occasions - events that appeared to set that narrative or at least became easy to reflect upon later on...

Cummins Driving Through the Covers

Zak Crawley dedicated the preparation for the 2023 Ashes series thinking about hitting that first ball for four runs - regarding hoping to "make an impact."

Australian skipper Pat Cummins approached at Edgbaston and Crawley hammered a shot past the covers amid deafening roars from English crowd.

"I've long remained an enormous fan of the first ball in the Ashes," the opener revealed.

"I've been watching it from youth so I understood a couple of weeks before if should we won the toss it meant a good opportunity to facing that ball."

"I discussed to Brooky regarding it while we were golfing in Scotland - that it could be cool should I get the first one for runs and deliver an impact."

The English may not have won the series - and Australia dramatically won that first match on the final day - yet it proved a glimpse of the way Stokes' team would play aggressively throughout the series.

Burns and English Dismissed Early

This occasion at Edgbaston proved one of rare opening deliveries that went the way of England, however.

Far more frequently they have been ominous indicators regarding Australia's control that was ahead.

On the 2021-22 tour, Mitchell Starc dismissed English batsman Rory Burns via a half-volley at Brisbane becoming the initial pitcher to take a dismissal on the first ball of a series since Aussie bowler Ernest McCormick during 1936.

The English preparation had been lacking and at that point of Aussie elation England received a hit to their morale.

"My spirit just dropped to the floor," said paceman Stuart Broad, who was observing in the dressing room.

"We had worked for these matches and immediately, first ball, he is out."

The Ashes were lost within 11 more days while the Australians claimed the series four-nil.

The Opener's Impact Shot

It is also no surprise an Australian captain who thrived in "psychological warfare" thought proceedings were determined through an identical event twenty-seven prior.

Steve Waugh and the Australians aimed for their fourth Ashes victory in a row when batsman Michael Slater started the 1994-95 series with decisively crunching English bowler Phil DeFreitas for four past the offside.

"It felt like 'okay boys here we go once more we've dominated now'," recalled Waugh, who'd feature every Tests in a 3-1 home win.

"Psychologically it felt as if we are on top already and we should continue hammering away. We understand how to beat these guys."

Significant.

Harmison's Dreadful Wide

But what if the first delivery proves just that - a single among ten thousand or so to start the contest?

The errant delivery Steve Harmison bowled to begin the 2006-07 Ashes - where he sent the delivery into the grasp of skipper Andrew Flintoff at the slips, almost avoiding the pitch completely - became the most famous Ashes series opener of all.

"I tensed," the bowler explained journalists shortly after.

"I allowed the enormity of the moment overwhelm me. Everything felt so alien for me. My entire being was nervous."

"I could not get my grip to stop being sweaty. That initial delivery slipped from my hands, the second did as well, and, after that, I had no rhythm, nothing."

The English had won 2005's series fifteen months earlier but were comprehensively beaten five-nil. Some believe those series ended at that very moment.

"We simply weren't skilled enough to defeat