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The war of words before the Ashes continues to heat up, with ex-England bowler Broad declaring that the English side will confront "arguably the weakest Australian team since 2010" on tour this season.

David Warner's Bold Prediction Met With Skepticism

Broad's assertion came as a reply to Warner – a long-time Ashes rival – predicting a 4-0 victory for the hosts. "Should the skipper [Pat Cummins] be absent, they could perhaps snatch a single victory," Warner commented.

Australia have not lost a men’s Ashes match on home soil since England’s series win in 2010-11. Their 5-0 win three years later – on the back of seven defeats in their previous nine Tests – came before 4-0 Ashes triumphs in 2017-18 and 2021-22.

Squad Uncertainty and Fitness Worries for Australia

Yet, the No 1-ranked Test team, who have lost only one of their past 13 bilateral series, enter the upcoming assignment with questions over the composition of their batting lineup and the health of Pat Cummins, who is unlikely to feature in the opening match at the Perth stadium because of a back issue.

"It's extremely challenging to win in Australia as an English team, or any side," Broad remarked during his podcast. "The Australians are massive favourites."

"The Aussies face the most pressure because they’re anticipated to prevail, they’re brilliant at home, but they’ve got question marks over their squad and concerns over their skipper's condition. You wouldn’t be outlandish in believing – this isn't merely a view, it’s a fact – it is likely the worst Australian team since the 2010 era. And it’s the best England squad since 2010. These factors match up to the reality that it’s going to be a brilliant contest."

Comparison to Historic Tour

"Australia have been highly stable for a long period of time that it was clear who was going to open the innings, who was going to bat, which bowlers were available, and they don’t have that. It’s very much a comparable scenario to the 2010-11 period when England went and won there. The reality is Australia generally have to be bad to lose in Australia and England have to be very good. The English have a solid opportunity of being very good and Australia have a decent chance of underperforming."

Selection Dilemma for England

A major issue for the English camp remains their selection at No 3, with Ollie Pope and Jacob Bethell contesting the spot. Cook, whose prolific scoring paved the way for the visitors' series victory 15 years ago, thinks it would be "strange" for Stokes' team to move away from Pope, who has been a consistent at first drop for the last three years.

"I'd select Pope at number three," Cook stated. "In my view it’s quite an easy choice. You’ve got someone who’s been part of this buildup for three or four years. He’s captained the side, he has delivered some extraordinary innings for England and he’s a hundred-maker. He knows how to score hundreds in first-class cricket. If they drop him now, I think that alters the entire balance of the foundation they've established over the last few years."

While hailing Bethell as "a hugely gifted cricketer", Cook said: "It would be a big, big gamble [to pick him] because should it fail what is the fallback option, someone you’ve just got rid of? They have committed heavily in people like Pope and [Zak] Crawley that it would seem such a strange thing to change it now."

Leadership Change and Broadcast Team

Ollie Pope has been replaced by Brook as the team's deputy skipper but, as per Cook, that will "take the pressure off" the Surrey batsman.

"They’ve been proactive on that, thinking if there is an injury to Ben Stokes, they have a player in Brook who has led the ODI team and everyone has seen that he seems to be a natural fit. That will just relieve Pope. I don’t think undermine him. I’m sure it will have disappointed him because whenever you're removed from a leadership role it isn't perfect, but I doubt it undermines him."

Cook will be in the host nation as part of the broadcast team of the series, and will be joined by fellow Ashes winners Finn and Swann as in-studio analysts. The channel will offer a dedicated commentary stream but will use a mixed approach, with play-by-play announcers Alastair Eykyn and Rob Hatch to work off-site in the UK, while Cook, Finn and Swann provide co-commentary from Australia. Rainford-Brent is also part of the broadcast team operating remotely, with the live presentation to be hosted by Becky Ives.