England and Australia will tomorrow stride out for the opening day of the 2013 Ashes series at Trent Bridge, and if recent memory is anything to go by, we should be in for a treat.
Here are five memorable opening days between the two rivals over the last 16 years...
Edgbaston, Birmingham (5 June 1997)
England defied expectation to blow away Australia in Birmingham, bowling out the tourists for 118 before taking an 82-run lead, for the loss of three wickets, by stumps. Andy Caddick's five for 50 skittled the tourists with only Shane Warne's 47 inching them into three figures. Hussain then took command, racing to 80 by the close, on his way to 207.
The Gabba, Brisbane (7 November 2002)
A disastrous day began auspiciously when Nasser Hussain won the toss, only he inexplicably chose to put Australia into bat. A mistake the former England skipper has failed to live down since, Matthew Hayden's unbeaten 186 helped the hosts to 364 for two and England's woes were compounded further by a sickening knee injury to Simon Jones in the outfield.
Lord's, London (21 July, 2005)
Bodyline was back. England proved they would not be intimidated by an imperious Australian team during a brutal bowling spell. The venomous Steve Harmison cut through the Aussies, and quite literally cut Ricky Ponting, whose cheek was left bloodied, as Australia were bowled out for 190. However a glorious five-wicket Glenn McGrath haul reduced England to 92 for seven by the close.
The Gabba, Brisbane (23 November, 2006)
If ever an opening delivery set the tone for the series, it was Harmison's at the Gabba. His wayward and wide ball ended up with Andrew Flintoff at second slip, and so began the ignominious whitewash of 2006/07. Ricky Ponting hit a century on the opening day, en route to 196, as Australia embarrassed England.
The Gabba, Brisbane (25 November, 2010)
Skipper Andrew Strauss fell to the third ball of the day before Peter Siddle joined Shane Warne and Darren Gough in the pantheon of Ashes hat-trick takers. England were bowled out for 260, but claimed a draw and romped to three innings victories to end a 24-year wait for success Down Under.