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The war of words before the Ashes is escalating further, with ex-England paceman Stuart Broad stating that England will confront "arguably the weakest Australian team since 2010" on tour this season.

Warner's Confident Forecast Answered by Doubt

Broad's assertion was in response to David Warner – an Ashes foe of Broad’s – predicting a clean sweep for the hosts. "Should the skipper [Pat Cummins] be absent, they could perhaps snatch a single victory," Warner said.

Australia have not lost a Ashes match on home soil after England's series win in the 2010-11 tour. Their 5-0 win in the following series – on the back of seven losses in their last nine matches – came before 4-0 series victories in the 2017-18 and 2021-22 campaigns.

Squad Uncertainty and Fitness Worries for Australia

Yet, the No 1-ranked Test side, who have lost only one of their last thirteen series, enter the upcoming assignment with uncertainty over the makeup of their batting lineup and the fitness of Cummins, who is doubtful to play in the first Test at Perth because of a back injury.

"It’s very, very difficult to win in Australia as an England side, or any side," said Broad on his podcast. "Australia have to be strong favorites."

"Australia are under the greatest expectations because they’re anticipated to prevail, they’re brilliant at home, but they’ve got question marks over their team and concerns over their captain’s fitness. It's not unreasonable in believing – 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 England squad since 2010. So those things point towards the reality that it’s going to be a thrilling Ashes series."

Comparison to Historic Series

"Australia have been so consistent for a long period of time that you just knew who was going to open the batting, who was going to bat, which bowlers were available, and they lack that certainty now. It closely resembles a comparable scenario to the 2010-11 period when England went and won there. The fact of the matter is Australia generally have to be bad to lose in Australia and England must excel. England have a great chance of performing exceptionally and Australia have a decent chance of being bad."

Selection Dilemma for England

A key question for the English camp remains their selection at the number three position, with Ollie Pope and Bethell contesting the spot. Cook, whose 766 runs set up the visitors' series victory 15 years ago, thinks it would be "strange" for Ben Stokes’ side to abandon Ollie Pope, who has been a consistent at first drop for the past three seasons.

"I would bat Ollie Pope at number three," Cook stated. "In my view it’s a straightforward decision. You’ve got someone who’s been part of this buildup for three or four years. He has led the team, he has delivered some extraordinary innings for the national side and he scores centuries. He knows how to score hundreds in the domestic game. If they drop him now, I think that alters the entire balance of what they’ve built up over the last few years."

Although praising Jacob Bethell as "a hugely gifted cricketer", Cook added: "It would be a big, big gamble [to pick him] because should it fail what is the fallback option, a player you recently discarded? They’ve invested so much in players such as Ollie Pope and [Crawley that it would be such a strange thing to change it now."

Captaincy Change and Broadcast Team

Ollie Pope has been succeeded by Harry Brook as the team's deputy skipper but, as per Cook, that will "take the pressure off" the Surrey right-hander.

"They’ve been proactive on that, thinking in case of an injury to 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 a natural fit. That will just take the pressure off. I don’t think undermine him. Certainly it will have hurt him because whenever you're removed from a leadership role it isn't perfect, but I doubt it undermines him."

Alastair Cook will be in the host nation as part of TNT’s coverage of the series, and will be joined by former Ashes champions Steven Finn and Graeme Swann as in-studio analysts. The channel will provide its own audio feed but will operate a hybrid model, with commentators Eykyn and Rob Hatch to work off-site in the United Kingdom, while the trio deliver expert analysis from on location. Rainford-Brent is also part of the commentary team working off-site, with the on-ground coverage to be hosted by Becky Ives.