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The first delivery of a series represents far more than just a single ball.

It represents an gut-wrenching three to four moments of pure drama, where every bit of pre-match discussion finally concludes.

"To set the tone for the entire series would prove really cool," remarked England bowler Gus Atkinson when asked about this possibility lately.

"I understand there have been numerous historic first-ball moments in Ashes history. The opportunity to join that history seems amazing."

Like Atkinson observes, that opening delivery has produced several of the truly historic Ashes instances - events that seemed to set that tone and at least proved easy to reflect upon later on...

The Captain Driving Through the Covers

Zak Crawley had spent his lead-up to 2023's Ashes contemplating driving the opening delivery to a boundary - about aiming to "deliver an impact."

Australian captain Pat Cummins approached from Edgbaston when the batsman cracked a shot through cover field to thunderous cheers from the England crowd.

"I've always been an enormous fan regarding the opening delivery in Ashes cricket," the opener revealed.

"I've been following it from childhood so I understood several of weeks out if should we won the toss it meant a good opportunity of facing that ball."

"I discussed to Brooky regarding this when we played golfing in Scotland - that it could be amazing should I get the first one away and make a statement."

The English may not have won that contest - and Australia thrillingly took that first Test on the final day - yet it was a preview of how Stokes' team would attack throughout that summer.

Burns & England Dismissed Early

This instance at Birmingham remains one of rare first deliveries that went the way of England, however.

Much more typically they have been telling signs of the Australian superiority that would be to come.

During 2021's series, Mitchell Starc bowled England batsman Rory Burns with a leg-stump half-volley in the Gabba to become the initial bowler to take a dismissal with the opening delivery in a series since Aussie seamer Ernest McCormick in the 1930s.

The English preparation had been inadequate so at that moment during Australian elation England received a hit to their morale.

"My emotion just plummeted immediately," said paceman Stuart Broad, watching observing in the pavilion.

"You have worked toward this series and immediately, opening delivery, he is out."

The series were lost within 11 more days and Australia won the series four-nil.

The Opener's Statement Delivery

It is also unsurprising an Australian skipper who thrived in "psychological warfare" believed proceedings were determined by a similar event twenty-seven years earlier.

Steve Waugh with the Australians aimed for their fourth Ashes series win in a row when batsman Michael Slater started 1994's series by emphatically hitting English seamer Phil DeFreitas for four past the offside.

"It felt like 'alright boys here we go again we've got them now'," recalled the captain, who would play all five matches during a 3-1 domestic win.

"Psychologically it felt like we're on top now so let's just keep pressing on. We know how we defeat these guys."

Foreboding.

Harmison's Horror Wide

But suppose that delivery proves only that - one among 10,000 or so to start the series?

The wide Steve Harmison bowled to start the 2006-07 series - when he sent the delivery toward the hands of captain Andrew Flintoff at second slip, nearly avoiding the cut strip completely - proved the most iconic Ashes series first ball in history.

"I tensed," Harmison told media soon after.

"I allowed the significance of the occasion affect me. It all seemed so strange for me. My entire being felt tense."

"I couldn't get my hands to stop sweating. The first ball flew out of my grasp, the second did as well, and, after that, I had no control, zero."

The English had won the 2005 series 15 months earlier yet were resoundingly beaten five-nil. Some argue those Ashes were lost in that very instant.

"We weren't good enough to beat