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There are up to 13,500 balls bowled in an Ashes series. So what are the chances of the first delivery being an omen? Much better than you think.
The first deliveries in the last two series have perfectly summed up the fortunes of both sides says Justin Langer, who faced the opening salvo in the past three series.
“In 2005, I just remember how silent Lord’s was for that first ball and the ball flew through to (wicketkeeper) Geraint Jones who took it over his head and it was amazing, the intensity from that first ball,” Langer told AAP.
“The English players were all over us like bees to honey.
“I looked around and point was coming at me, mid-off was coming at me, the slips were moving towards me and (bowler Steve) Harmison was about two foot from my face.
“I just thought mate … these guys are all on.
“The next ball hit me on the elbow and that whole first session was just like playing an AFL grand final or a State of Origin rugby league game.
“Everything was just in fast forward, it was unbelievable … an incredible experience.”
England lost that opening Test but were eventually rewarded for their bold and enterprising approach with a 2-1 series win.
Fourteen months later in Australia at the Gabba, their start could not have been more marked.
With interest in the series at its highest in decades, Harmison infamously bowled the first ball to then captain Andrew Flintoff at second slip.
“Haydos and I were out there looking for a fight and Harmison had that silly giggle on his face,” Langer said.
“An almost embarrassed giggle and the ball had gone to slips,” he said.
“Flintoff is thinking, `what is going on’.
“I was looking around for the same fight and intensity and English players were all looking at their shoelaces.”
Australia wiped England 5-0.
There is a good chance Phillip Hughes will face the first ball in Cardiff on Wednesday, the 20-year-old son of a banana farmer thrust into one of the sport’s most revered contests.
But Langer said he shouldn’t change a thing.
“All the hype and the lead-up are great but when it gets to that first ball in that first session all he has to do is worry about whatever he does in any form of cricket,” he said.
“Because that in essence is all it is, just that bat and ball.”
SERIES FOR AUSTRALIA V ENGLAND
Aus won Eng won Drawn Played
In Australia 22 13 4 39
In England 15 16 4 35
In Total 37 29 8 74TESTS FOR AUSTRALIA V ENGLAND
Aus won Eng won Drawn Total
In Australia 85 54 26 165
In England 46 43 62 151
Total 131 97 88 316RESULTS OF LAST 10 AUST-ENG SERIES IN ENGLAND
Year Result (number of matches played in brackets)
1975 Australia 1-0 (4)
1977 England 3-0 (5)
1980 Drawn 0-0 (1)
1981 England 3-1 (6)
1985 England 3-1 (6)
1989 Australia 4-0 (6)
1993 Australia 4-1 (6)
1997 Australia 3-2 (6)
2001 Australia 4-1 (5)
2005 England 2-1 (5)BIGGEST WIN
England beat Australia by an innings and 579 runs at The Oval in 1938 (plus eight matches won by 10 wickets)NARROWEST WIN
England beat Australia by two runs at Edgbaston in 2005 (plus two matches decided by one wicket)MOST RUNS
Don Bradman (Aus) – 5,028 runs at 89.79 in 63 innings
Jack Hobbs (Eng) – 3,636 runs at 54.27 in 71 innings
Allan Border (Aus) – 3,548 runs at 56.32 in 82 innings
David Gower (Eng) – 3,269 runs at 44.78 in 77 innings
Steve Waugh (Aus) – 3,200 runs at 58.18 in 73 inningsMOST WICKETS
Shane Warne (Aus) – 195 wickets at 23.26 in 36 Tests
Dennis Lillee (Aus) – 167 wickets at 21.00 in 29 Tests
Glenn McGrath (Aus) – 157 wickets at 20.93 in 30 Tests
Ian Botham (Eng) – 148 wickets at 27.66 in 36 Tests
Hugh Trumble (Aus) – 141 wickets at 20.89 in 31 TestsMOST RUNS IN AN INNINGS
Len Hutton (Eng) – 364 at The Oval in 1938BEST BOWLING FIGURES
Jim Laker (Eng) 10-53 at Old Trafford in 1956MOST RUNS IN A SERIES
Don Bradman (Aus) 974 runs at 139.14 in 1930 (five-Test series)MOST WICKETS IN A SERIES
Jim Laker (Eng) 46 wickets at 9.61 in 1956 (five-Test series)
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