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The pre-Ashes verbal sparring is escalating further, with ex-England paceman Broad stating that the English side will face "probably the worst Australian team since 2010" during their tour this season.

David Warner's Confident Forecast Answered by Skepticism

Broad's assertion came as a reply to David Warner – a long-time Ashes rival – forecasting a 4-0 victory for the home side. "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 at home after England's 3-1 victory in 2010-11. Their 5-0 win three years later – following seven defeats in their last nine matches – was followed by 4-0 series victories in the 2017-18 and 2021-22 campaigns.

Team Doubt and Fitness Worries for the Hosts

Yet, the top-ranked Test side, who have suffered just a single defeat of their past 13 bilateral series, enter the upcoming assignment with uncertainty over the makeup of their batting lineup and the fitness of Pat Cummins, who is doubtful to play in the first Test at Perth because of a back issue.

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

"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 squad and question marks over their skipper's condition. It's not unreasonable in believing – this isn't merely a view, it’s a fact – it’s probably the worst Australian team since 2010. Meanwhile, it's the strongest England squad in over a decade. These factors match up to the reality that it’s going to be a brilliant contest."

Comparison to Historic Tour

"The Australians have remained so consistent for a prolonged duration 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 the 2010-11 period when England traveled and emerged victorious. The fact of the matter is Australia generally have to be bad to be defeated at home and England have to be very good. The English have a solid opportunity of being very good and the Australians face a real possibility of underperforming."

Team Dilemma for the Visitors

A key question for the English camp remains their selection at No 3, with Pope and Bethell vying for the role. Alastair Cook, whose 766 runs paved the way for the tourists’ series win 15 years ago, thinks it would be "unusual" for Ben Stokes’ side to abandon Ollie Pope, who has been a consistent at first drop for the last three years.

"I would bat Pope at number three," said Cook. "In my view it’s quite an easy choice. They have someone who’s been part of this buildup for several years. He’s captained the side, he’s played remarkable performances for the national side and he’s a hundred-maker. He knows how to make big scores in first-class cricket. If they drop 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 "a hugely gifted cricketer", Cook added: "It would be a big, big gamble [to pick him] because if that doesn’t work what is the fallback option, someone you’ve just got rid of? They’ve invested so much in people like Pope and [Zak] Crawley that it would be such a strange thing to make a switch at this stage."

Captaincy Shift and Commentary Team

Ollie Pope has been succeeded by 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 if there is an injury to Stokes, they’ve got a guy in Harry Brook who has taken the [captaincy of the] one-day side and everyone has seen that he appears well suited to it. This will relieve Pope. I believe it won't weaken his position. I’m sure it will have disappointed him because anytime you get taken off a leadership role it isn't perfect, but I don’t think it diminishes his standing."

Alastair Cook will be in Australia as part of TNT’s coverage of the Ashes, and will be accompanied by former Ashes champions Steven Finn and Graeme Swann as in-studio analysts. The network 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 United Kingdom, while the trio deliver expert analysis from Australia. Rainford-Brent is also part of the broadcast team operating remotely, with the on-ground coverage to be presented by Becky Ives.