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The pre-Ashes verbal sparring is escalating further, with ex-England paceman Stuart Broad stating that England will confront "probably the worst Australian team in over a decade" during their tour this season.

David Warner's Bold Prediction Met With Skepticism

The former England bowler's claim was in response to Warner – a long-time Ashes rival – forecasting a clean sweep for the home side. "If the captain [Pat Cummins] doesn’t play, they might win one game," Warner commented.

The Aussies remain undefeated in a men’s Ashes match on home soil since England’s 3-1 victory in the 2010-11 tour. The subsequent 5-0 whitewash three years later – on the back of seven losses in their last nine matches – was followed by 4-0 Ashes triumphs in the 2017-18 and 2021-22 campaigns.

Team Doubt and Fitness Worries for the Hosts

Yet, the No 1-ranked Test side, who have lost only one of their past 13 bilateral series, enter the upcoming assignment with questions over the makeup of their top order and the fitness of Cummins, who is unlikely to feature in the first Test at the Perth stadium because of a back injury.

"It's extremely challenging to win in Australia as an England side, or any side," said Broad on his podcast. "Australia have to be massive favourites."

"The Aussies face the greatest expectations because they’re expected to win, they’re formidable in home conditions, but they’ve got question marks over their squad and concerns over their skipper's condition. You wouldn’t be outlandish in thinking – this isn't merely a view, it’s a fact – it’s probably the worst Australian team since 2010. And it’s the best England squad in over a decade. These factors point towards the fact that it’s going to be a thrilling Ashes series."

Parallel to Historic Series

"Australia have been highly stable for a prolonged duration that you just knew who would open the innings, who would bat, what bowlers there were, and they don’t have that. It closely resembles a similar situation to 2010-11 when England traveled and emerged victorious. The fact of the matter is the Aussies typically need to underperform to lose in Australia and England must excel. England have a great chance of performing exceptionally and Australia have a decent chance of underperforming."

Team Dilemma for England

A key question for the English camp remains their selection at No 3, with Ollie Pope and Jacob Bethell contesting the spot. Cook, whose 766 runs paved the way for the visitors' series victory 15 years ago, thinks it would be "unusual" for Ben Stokes’ side to move away from Pope, who has been a regular at first drop for the last three years.

"I'd select Ollie Pope at three," said Cook. "In my view it’s a straightforward decision. You’ve got someone who’s been involved in this preparation for several years. He’s captained the side, he has delivered some extraordinary innings for the national side and he’s a hundred-maker. He understands how to score hundreds 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 Bethell as "a hugely gifted cricketer", Cook added: "It would represent a big, big gamble [to pick him] because if that doesn’t work where do you move back to, someone you’ve just got rid of? They have committed heavily in players such as Pope and [Zak] Crawley that it would be such a strange thing to change it now."

Captaincy Change and Commentary Crew

Pope has been succeeded by Harry Brook as the team's deputy skipper but, as per Cook, that will "ease the burden on" the Surrey right-hander.

"The management has acted decisively on that, thinking in case of an injury to Ben Stokes, they’ve got a guy in Brook who has led the ODI team and it's evident that he seems to be well suited to it. This will relieve Pope. 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 doubt it diminishes his standing."

Cook will be in the host nation as part of TNT’s coverage of the Ashes, and will be joined by former Ashes champions Finn and Swann as in-studio analysts. The network will provide its own audio feed but will operate a hybrid model, 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 on-ground coverage to be hosted by Ives.