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The pre-Ashes verbal sparring continues to heat up, with former England paceman Broad stating that the English side will face "probably the worst Australian team since 2010" during their tour this winter.

Warner's Bold Prediction Answered by Doubt

Broad's assertion was in response to David Warner – a long-time Ashes rival – forecasting a clean sweep for the hosts. "Should the skipper [Pat Cummins] be absent, they could perhaps snatch a single victory," Warner said.

The Aussies remain undefeated in a men’s Ashes match on home soil since England’s series win in 2010-11. The subsequent 5-0 whitewash in the following series – following seven losses in their last nine matches – was followed by 4-0 series victories in the 2017-18 and 2021-22 campaigns.

Team Doubt and Injury Concerns for the Hosts

Yet, the No 1-ranked Test team, who have suffered just a single defeat of their past 13 bilateral series, approach the forthcoming contest with questions over the makeup of their top order and the fitness of Pat Cummins, who is doubtful to play in the opening match at the Perth stadium because of a back injury.

"It’s very, very difficult to triumph on Australian soil as an English team, or any visiting team," Broad remarked during his podcast. "The Australians are massive favourites."

"The Aussies face the most pressure because they’re expected to win, they’re brilliant at home, but they’ve got doubts over their team and concerns over their captain’s fitness. It's not unreasonable in thinking – this isn't merely a view, it’s a fact – it is likely the weakest Aussie lineup since the 2010 era. And it’s the best English team in over a decade. So those things point towards the fact that it’s going to be a thrilling Ashes series."

Parallel to Historic Series

"Australia have been so consistent for a long period of time that it was clear who would open the batting, who was going to bat, which bowlers were available, and they don’t have that. It’s very much a similar situation to 2010-11 when England went and won there. The reality is Australia generally have to be bad to lose in Australia and England must excel. England have a great chance of performing exceptionally and the Australians face a real possibility of underperforming."

Team Dilemma for England

A key question for the English camp remains their choice at the number three position, with Ollie Pope and Bethell contesting the spot. Alastair Cook, whose 766 runs set up the tourists’ series win over a decade past, believes it would be "strange" for Ben Stokes’ side to move away from Pope, who has been a consistent at first drop for the past three seasons.

"I'd select Pope at number three," said Cook. "I think it’s quite an easy choice. You’ve got a player who has been part of this buildup for several years. He has led the team, he has delivered some extraordinary innings for England and he scores centuries. He knows how to make big scores in first-class cricket. If you get rid of him now, I believe that alters the entire balance of what they’ve built up over the last few years."

Although praising Jacob Bethell as "an incredibly talented player", Cook added: "It would be a big, big gamble [to pick him] because if that doesn’t work where do you move back to, a player you recently discarded? They’ve invested so much in players such as Ollie Pope and [Crawley that it would seem such a strange thing to change it now."

Captaincy Change and Commentary Crew

Ollie Pope has been replaced by Harry Brook as England’s vice-captain but, as per Cook, that will "take the pressure off" the Surrey batsman.

"The management has acted decisively on that, thinking in case of an injury to Ben Stokes, they have a player in Brook who has taken the [captaincy of the] one-day side and it's evident that he seems to be well suited to it. That will just take the pressure off. I don’t think undermine him. I’m sure it will have disappointed him because anytime you get taken off a leadership thing it isn't perfect, but I don’t think it undermines him."

Cook will be in Australia as part of the broadcast team of the series, and will be joined by former Ashes champions Finn and Swann as on-the-ground pundits. The network will offer a dedicated commentary stream but will operate a hybrid model, with play-by-play announcers Eykyn and Rob Hatch to work off-site in the UK, while Cook, Finn and Swann deliver expert analysis from Australia. Ebony Rainford-Brent is also part of the broadcast team working off-site, with the on-ground coverage to be presented by Ives.