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The war of words before the Ashes is escalating further, with former England bowler Stuart Broad stating that England will face "probably the worst Aussie squad in over a decade" during their tour this winter.

Warner's Bold Prediction Met With Doubt

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

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 – following seven defeats in their last nine matches – came before 4-0 Ashes triumphs in 2017-18 and 2021-22.

Team Doubt and Fitness Concerns for Australia

Yet, the top-ranked Test side, who have lost only one of their last thirteen series, approach the forthcoming contest with questions over the composition of their top order and the fitness of Pat Cummins, who is doubtful to play in the first Test at the Perth stadium because of a back issue.

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

"Australia are under the most pressure because they’re expected to win, 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 – it’s actually not an opinion, it's a reality – it is likely the worst Australian team since the 2010 era. Meanwhile, it's the strongest English team since 2010. So those things match up to the reality that it’s going to be a brilliant Ashes series."

Comparison to Historic Tour

"The Australians have remained highly stable for a prolonged duration that it was clear who would open the batting, who would bat, which bowlers were available, and they don’t have that. It closely resembles a similar situation to 2010-11 when England went and won there. 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."

Selection Dilemma for England

A key question for the English camp remains their choice at the number three position, with Pope and Jacob Bethell contesting the spot. Cook, whose prolific scoring set up the visitors' series victory over a decade past, believes it would be "unusual" for Stokes' team to abandon Pope, who has been a consistent at number three for the last three years.

"I would bat Ollie Pope at number three," Cook stated. "I think it’s quite an easy decision. They have a player who has been part of this buildup for several years. He has led the team, he’s played some extraordinary innings for the national side and he’s a hundred-maker. He understands how to make big scores in first-class cricket. If they drop him now, I think that alters the entire balance of the foundation they've established over the recent years."

While hailing Jacob Bethell as "a hugely gifted cricketer", Cook said: "It would be a major risk [to pick him] because should it fail where do you move back to, someone you’ve just got rid of? They have committed heavily in players such as Pope and [Crawley that it would be such a strange thing to make a switch at this stage."

Captaincy Shift and Commentary Team

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.

"The management has acted decisively on that, considering if there is an injury to Ben Stokes, they have a player in Harry Brook who has led the ODI team and everyone has seen that he appears well suited to it. That will just relieve Pope. I don’t think weaken his position. I’m sure it will have disappointed him because whenever you're removed from a leadership thing 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 joined by former Ashes champions Finn and Swann as on-the-ground pundits. The channel will offer a dedicated commentary stream but will use a mixed approach, with commentators Eykyn and Rob Hatch to work off-site in the UK, while Cook, Finn and Swann provide co-commentary from Australia. Ebony Rainford-Brent is also part of the broadcast team working off-site, with the live presentation to be hosted by Becky Ives.