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The opening ball of an Ashes series is far more than just one ball.

It signifies a heart-pounding two or four seconds filled with pure drama, when every bit of pre-match hype finally concludes.

"To establish the mood throughout the whole series would prove really remarkable," commented England bowler Gus Atkinson when asked about this possibility this week.

"I'm aware history shows multiple memorable first-ball instances during Ashes history. The opportunity to join that history seems incredible."

Like the bowler notes, the opening ball has created many of the most memorable cricket occasions - ones that seemed to establish the tone or at least proved convenient to look back on later on...

Cummins Driving Past Cover Field

Zak Crawley had spent the build-up for 2023's Ashes series planning driving that opening delivery for a boundary - about wanting to "create an impact."

Australian captain Pat Cummins ran in from Edgbaston when the batsman drilled a drive through the covers amid roaring roars by English supporters.

"I've always been a big fan of the first ball in Ashes cricket," the opener shared.

"I've been observing it since youth and I knew a couple weeks before that if we won coin toss there would be a strong chance to facing that ball."

"I discussed to Brooky about this when we played golfing in Scotland - saying it could be amazing if I could strike the first one away and make a statement."

The English didn't claimed that series - while the Australians thrillingly won the opening match during the final day - but it proved a glimpse of how Stokes' side planned to attack during the summer.

Burns and England Bowled Over

That occasion at Edgbaston remains one of the few opening salvos to go the way of the English, however.

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

On the 2021-22 series, Mitchell Starc bowled England batsman Rory Burns with a half-volley in the Gabba becoming the initial bowler to take a wicket with the opening delivery of a series since Australian seamer Ernest McCormick during the 1930s.

The English build-up was poor so in that moment of Aussie jubilation the tourists took a punch to the stomach.

"My emotion simply plummeted immediately," said paceman Stuart Broad, watching observing from the pavilion.

"We had built for this series then immediately, first ball, he's dismissed."

The series were lost within eleven more days while Australia claimed the contest 4-0.

Slater's Impact Delivery

It is additionally no surprise a captain who thrived on "mental disintegration" thought proceedings were set by an identical moment 27 before.

Steve Waugh and the Australians aimed for a fourth Ashes win consecutively when opener Michael Slater started the 1994-95 series with decisively driving English bowler Phil DeFreitas for four through backward point.

"It felt like 'alright team we're off again we have dominated already'," recalled Waugh, who'd play every Tests during three-one home win.

"In our minds it felt like we're dominant now and let's just continue pressing on. We know how we beat these guys."

Foreboding.

Harmison's Dreadful Delivery

But suppose that delivery proves just that - a single among ten thousand or so beginning the series?

The wide Steve Harmison delivered to begin the 2006-07 series - when he hurled the ball into the grasp of captain Andrew Flintoff at second slip, nearly avoiding the cut strip completely - proved the most famous Ashes first ball of all.

"I panicked," Harmison explained journalists soon afterwards.

"I let the significance of the moment affect me. Everything felt so alien to me. My entire being felt tense."

"I couldn't stop my hands from being sweaty. The first ball flew from my grasp, the second did as well, and, after that, I possessed no consistency, zero."

The English claimed 2005's series fifteen before yet were comprehensively defeated 5-0. Some contend that series were lost in that very instant.

"We weren't good enough to beat