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The first ball of the Ashes carries more than just a delivery
The opening ball of the Ashes series is more than a single moment-it's a high-stakes preamble that can echo through the entire competition. As England's Gus Atkinson noted this week, the chance to "set the tone of the whole series would be really cool," joining a legacy of first-ball drama that has often foreshadowed triumph or collapse.
From Zak Crawley's boundary off Pat Cummins in 2023 to Mitchell Starc's wicket of Rory Burns in 2021, the first delivery has become a psychological battleground, a split-second that can embolden a team or expose their fragility. With the 2025-26 Ashes set to begin on 21 November, the pressure on the opening bowler and batter will again be immense.
Moments that defined series
England's Zak Crawley entered the 2023 Ashes with a clear plan: attack the first ball. When Cummins delivered at Edgbaston, Crawley's cover drive sent the crowd into a frenzy. "I knew if we won the toss, there'd be a good chance of facing it," he later told The Times. "It would be cool to make a statement." Though England lost that Test-and ultimately the series-the shot symbolized their aggressive approach under Ben Stokes.
Contrast that with Rory Burns' dismissal in 2021. Starc's leg-stump half-volley bowled Burns on the first ball, marking the first time since 1936 that an Ashes series began with a wicket. "My emotion just dropped to the floor," recalled Stuart Broad from the dressing room. Australia's 4-0 rout followed in just 12 days.
When nerves took over
No first ball is more infamous than Steve Harmison's 2006-07 wide-a delivery so errant it nearly reached second slip. "I froze," Harmison admitted later. "I let the occasion get to me." England, fresh off their 2005 triumph, were whitewashed 5-0. While Harmison dismissed the idea that one ball decided the series, the moment encapsulated the Ashes' ability to unnerve even the most seasoned players.
Justin Langer, who faced Harmison that day, described the eerie silence as the bowler approached: "The whole crowd went quiet. It was the most bizarre thing." The next ball struck Langer's elbow, sparking a fiery spell where Harmison hit three batters in an hour. "Matty Hayden walked down and said, 'Be ready little fella, these guys are on,'" Langer recalled. Australia's eventual 602-9 declared innings buried England.
The psychological edge
Australia's dominance in first-ball moments extends beyond luck. In 1994-95, Michael Slater's boundary off Phil DeFreitas set the tone for a 3-1 series win. "It was like, 'Alright boys, we've got them already,'" Steve Waugh later said. "We knew how to beat these guys." The message was clear: strike first, dictate terms.
Yet not every opener carries such weight. Some fade into the series' fabric, forgotten amid the larger narrative. But history suggests the team landing the first blow-whether through a wicket, a boundary, or sheer intimidation-often gains an early advantage in cricket's most storied rivalry.
What's next
The 2025-26 Ashes begins in Brisbane on 21 November, with live coverage across BBC platforms. As Atkinson and his teammates prepare, the first ball looms-not just as a delivery, but as a potential turning point in a contest where momentum is everything.
