The Ashes: Rory Burns, Zak Crawley, Steve Harmison and the famous Ashes first balls

It was Australian opener Justin Langer who faced Harmison in both 2006 and 2005.

Like Burns, as an opener he had faced the opening call of a match countless times before.

But Ashes is different.

“Harmison is at the end of the pavilion, my heart is pounding,” Langer told the BBC’s Stumped podcast.

“Usually the bowler runs for the first ball and the crowd starts roaring, you can hear the whistling, shouting and hitting, this time the whole crowd went silent.

“This is a very strange thing. It was concrete.”

Harmison’s first delivery found its way to wicketkeeper Geraint Jones. The Durham pacer gave Langer a knowing look, which Langer returned with a smile before jumping on the spot.

The next delivery hit Langer’s elbow.

“Ian Bell was at the bat pad and he started walking towards me, the chips started walking towards me and Harmison got as close as this microphone,” Langer said.

“[Langer’s opening partner] Matty Hayden walked down and said, ‘Get ready little buddy, these guys are starting.’

“Hayden got hit, I think it was the only hit he got on his helmet, and Ricky Ponting got hit under the eye and he still has the scar to this day.

“It was the best hour of cricket I have ever played and 18 years later I still remember that quiet first ball.”

Not every first ball of the Ashes is this quiet and not all of them are remembered.

It may not decide a contest, but history shows that you usually have to strike the first blow…