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Ten years since Adelaide, pink-ball Tests remain an Australian speciality

Ten years ago last week, Martin Guptill faced up against Mitchell Starc at Adelaide Oval for the first ball in day-night Test. What played out was a gripping, low-scoring encounter, including a dose ...
The New York Times

England and Australia beware: The first ball of the Ashes can set the tone

Rory Burns is bowled in 2021 and umpire Steve Bucknor signals Steve Harmison's wide in 2006 Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images; Jonathan Wood/Getty Images The Athletic has launched a Cricket WhatsApp ...
The New York Times

Harry Brook charging Mitchell Starc first ball was surreal, but was there method to the madness?

Harry Brook looks up at the big screen as he departs the crease Martin Keep/AFP via Getty Images The Athletic has launched a Cricket WhatsApp Channel. Click here to join. Was it brave or stupid? Was ...
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The drama and psychology of Ashes first balls

The first ball of the Ashes is so much more than one delivery. It is a stomach-churning two or three seconds of theatre, when all of that pre-series talk comes to an end. "To set the tone of the whole ...
Yardbarker

If first impressions count – What about first balls of an Ashes series?

Steve Harmison delivering the ball to Andrew Flintoff at second slip in 2006. Mitchell Starc crashing into Rory Burns’ leg stump in 2021. Zak Crawley crunching Australian skipper Pat Cummins through ...