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That initial delivery in an Ashes contest proves much more than just one delivery.

It embodies an gut-wrenching three or four moments of pure excitement, where every bit of the pre-series discussion finally ends.

"To set that mood throughout the entire contest would be really cool," stated English paceman Gus Atkinson after questioned regarding the prospect lately.

"I'm aware there have been numerous historic first-ball occasions in Ashes cricket history. The possibility to contribute to history seems incredible."

As Atkinson explains, that opening delivery has delivered some of the truly iconic Ashes moments - ones that seemed to establish the tone and at least proved easy to reflect upon later on...

The Captain Smashing Past the Covers

Zak Crawley had spent his preparation for the 2023 Ashes thinking about hitting that opening delivery to four runs - regarding aiming to "create a statement."

Australian captain Pat Cummins charged in at Edgbaston and Crawley cracked a shot past cover field amid deafening applause by the England crowd.

"I've always been a huge fan of the opening delivery in the Ashes," Crawley revealed.

"I was watching it from childhood so I knew several of weeks out that should we won coin toss it meant a good possibility of receiving that ball."

"I discussed with Brooky regarding this while we played golfing in Scotland - that it could be special should I get that first ball for runs to deliver a statement."

England didn't claimed the series - and the Australians dramatically won that first match during last day - yet it proved a preview at the way Ben Stokes' side would attack during the summer.

The Opener and England Dismissed Early

That moment in Edgbaston has been one of rare first salvos to go in favor of England, however.

Much more often they have been telling signs of Australia's control that would be following.

During 2021's series, Mitchell Starc dismissed England opener Rory Burns with a leg-stump full delivery at the Gabba to become the initial bowler to take a wicket with the first ball of a series since Australian seamer Ernest McCormick during 1936.

The English preparation had been poor and in that moment of Aussie elation the tourists took a blow to the stomach.

"My confidence simply fell to the floor," said paceman Stuart Broad, who was observing in the dressing room.

"We had worked toward these matches and bang, first ball, he's dismissed."

The series were gone in eleven additional days while the Australians won the series 4-0.

Slater's Statement Delivery

It's also no surprise a captain who reveled on "mental disintegration" believed proceedings were set through an identical moment 27 prior.

Steve Waugh and Australia were seeking their fourth Ashes victory in a row as batsman Michael Slater started the 1994-95 contest with emphatically hitting England seamer Phil DeFreitas to boundary past backward point.

"It was like 'okay team here we go again we have got them now'," recalled Waugh, who would play every matches in three-one home win.

"Psychologically it was like we are dominant already and we should continue pressing on. We know how to beat this team."

Foreboding.

Harmison's Dreadful Delivery

However what if the first ball is just that - a single in 10,000 or more to start the contest?

The errant delivery Steve Harmison delivered to begin 2006's series - when he hurled the ball into the grasp of skipper Andrew Flintoff at second slip, almost missing the cut strip in the process - has become the most famous Ashes opener in history.

"I tensed," Harmison told journalists shortly after.

"I let the pressure of the moment affect me. It all felt so alien to me. My whole body felt tense."

"I couldn't get my hands to stop being sweaty. The first ball flew out of my hands, the second also slipped, then, after that, I possessed no control, zero."

England had won 2005's Ashes 15 months earlier yet were resoundingly defeated 5-0. Many argue that Ashes were lost at that very moment.

"We weren't skilled enough to beat