'Thumped on the up through cover-point!'

For DeFreitas to Slater in 1994-95, will we one day be reading Cummins to Crawley 2023? The first ball of an Ashes series has long held a degree of mystique, and today's long-awaited opener was no exception. Here's how Cricday's ball-by-ball commentary has covered those moments since the start of the epic summer of 2005

Lord's, 2005

0.1, Harmison to Langer, no run

Just short of a good length and outside the off stump, Langer watches the ball carefully and lets it go through to the wicketkeeper, and with that the Ashes are finally underway!

The Gabba, 2006-07

0.1, Harmison to Langer, 1 wide

And it's wild and woolly, a massive wide taken by first slip. Welcome back to Australia, Steve.

Cardiff, 2009

0.1, Johnson to Strauss, no run

Starts with a decent length, if a touch too wide of the left-hander's off stump, and it's left alone

The Gabba, 2010-11

0.1, Hilfenhaus to Strauss, no run

Is it Harmison-esque? No it's not! A straightforward start outside off stump from Hilfenhaus, Strauss leaves it alone and the keeper takes it - not second slip.

Trent Bridge, 2013

0.1, Pattinson to Cook, 1 wide

It's a wide! Not quite Steve Harmison, but Pattinson starts with a very short, loopy bouncer.

The Gabba, 2013-14

0.1, Anderson to Rogers, no run

Good start by Anderson, full at off stump, hint of movement in the air, Rogers shuffles across and defends quite late, the ball runs to gully

Cardiff, 2015

0.1, Starc to Lyth, no run

Starts with a short ball loosener, 87mph, outside off and loops gently through to Haddin as Lyth drops his hands.

The Gabba, 2017-18

0.1, Starc to Cook, no run

Good line, tight to off stump and good carry through, but not express. Cook leaves alone, as you'd expect.

Edgbaston, 2019

0.1, Anderson to Bancroft, no run

Finds a good length and immediately has the ball shaping away, excellent line to the right-hander, who leaves.

The Gabba, 2021/22

0.1, Starc to Burns, OUT

Knocks him over first ball! Full yorker which crashes into the base of leg stump. Burns is nowhere, falling over to the off side as he looks to clip off the pads. Angled into the left-hander from over the wicket, but this actually tailed away late and sharply to hit the base of leg stump. What a start from Starc!

Edgbaston, 2023

0.1, Cummins to Crawley, FOUR runs

Thumped on the up through cover-point! What a shot! Decent length, a lot of width, he strides out and climbs into an amazing cover drive on the up!