Edwards, on England

In 2023, Zak Crawley cover-drove Pat Cummins’ first delivery of the series for four. The ball was over-pitched and just wide enough of the off stump to allow Crawley to lean into one of his favourite strokes. In the Edgbaston press box, journalists uttered a collective gasp of anticipation.

That boundary was the briefest of manifestos for the way England were going to approach Ashes Tests under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes. There was to be no respect for convention, no regard for the old orthodoxy that 240-3 represented a decent return on the first day of a five-day game. By the close on that first evening in 2023, Australia were 14-0 in reply to England’s 393-8 declared.

The opening delivery of a series against Australia has recently been freighted with significance, a portent for the next 25 days: think Steve Harmison’s wide at the Gabba in 2006 or Rory Burns being bowled by Mitchell Starc on the same ground in 2021. Crawley’s cover-drive seemed a counter to those dismal memories.