Most famous first deliveries in Ashes history

Given the ferocious build-up to every series, tension is often at its absolute peak as the bowler stands at the top of his mark ready to deliver the first ball of the Ashes.

Over the years, this has led to some of the most memorable moments in Ashes history.

From Steve Harmison to Rory Burns, we've delved into the Ashes archives to find some of the most famous first deliveries.

Pat Cummins to Zak Crawley (2023)

The prospect of taking 'Bazball' - a new, fresh, attacking and aggressive brand of cricket - to the Australians had dominated pre-series rhetoric in England and had reached fever pitch by the time Pat Cummins found himself at the top of his mark ready to deliver the first ball of the Ashes to Zak Crawley.

In years gone by, it would have been a ball left alone, safely into the gloves of the wicketkeeper.

However, Crawley had other ideas.

He treated the delivery with disdain, slapping in through the covers and sending it crashing into the fence.

Images of a flabbergasted Ben Stokes donning an iconic 'Bazball' bucket hat on the England team balcony provided one of the moments of the summer.

Mitchell Starc to Rory Burns (2021/22)

For many England fans, the sheer mention of Starc's first ball of the 2021/22 series is enough to send shivers down the spine.

The choice to either stay up or get up to watch the start of an away Ashes series is a decision not taken lightly and watching your opening batter walk back to the pavilion after just one delivery makes for tough viewing.

Ordinarily, a leg stump half-volley would be dispatched by a player of Burns' quality but the occasion got the better of him, shuffling awkwardly across his stumps and making it almost impossible to fend off the ball.

His failure to keep the ball from spearing into leg stump made him just the second player in history to be dismissed by the first ball of an Ashes series.

Steve Harmison to Justin Langer (2006/07)

Just as they did in 2005, Harmison and Langer stood 22 yards apart at the beginning of an Ashes series.

18 months prior, Harmison had whistled one past Langer's grill, setting the tone for the summer.

This delivery, however, would mark the beginning of the series in an altogether different way.

Storming in just as he did in 2005 to great effect, the England quick pushed one across Langer but instead of hitting the gloves of the wicketkeeper, this time the ball landed in the hands of Andrew Flintoff at second slip.

It was a sign of things to come for the visitors, losing not just the first but all five Tests that series.

Phil DeFreitas to Michael Slater (1994/95)

A last minute replacement for Devon Malcom after the former Derbyshire man was ruled out through illness, Phil DeFreitas was thrust into the Ashes limelight in the most brutal fashion.

DeFretias, bowling to Michael Slater, roared in from the top of his mark, swinging the ball gently away from the bat on a shortish length.

Definitely not the worst ball he ever bowled.

However, that didn't seem to matter to Slater.

The Aussie opener blasted the ball, with some authority, between cover and point and all the way into the fence.