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The pre-Ashes verbal sparring is escalating further, with ex-England bowler Stuart Broad stating that the English side will confront "probably the worst Aussie squad since 2010" during their tour this season.

David Warner's Bold Prediction Met With Doubt

Broad's assertion came as a reply to Warner – a long-time Ashes rival – predicting a 4-0 victory 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 Ashes match on home soil since England’s series win in the 2010-11 tour. The subsequent 5-0 whitewash in the following series – following seven defeats in their previous nine Tests – came before 4-0 series victories in the 2017-18 and 2021-22 campaigns.

Squad Doubt and Fitness Concerns for Australia

However, the No 1-ranked Test side, who have suffered just a single defeat of their last thirteen series, enter the upcoming assignment with questions over the makeup of their top order and the fitness of Pat Cummins, who is unlikely to feature in the opening match 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 strong favorites."

"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 team and question marks over their skipper's condition. You wouldn’t be outlandish in believing – this isn't merely a view, it’s a fact – it is likely the worst Australian team since 2010. And it’s the best England squad since 2010. These factors match up to the fact that it’s going to be a thrilling Ashes series."

Parallel to 2010-11 Series

"The Australians have remained so consistent for a long period of time that it was clear who would open the innings, who was going to bat, which bowlers were available, and they lack that certainty now. 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 lose in Australia and England must excel. England have a great chance of being very good and the Australians face a real possibility of underperforming."

Selection Dilemma for England

A major issue 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 tourists’ series win 15 years ago, thinks it would be "strange" for Stokes' team to move away from Pope, who has been a consistent at first drop for the past three seasons.

"I would bat Pope at three," Cook stated. "I think it’s a straightforward choice. They have someone who’s been involved in this preparation for three or four years. He’s captained the side, 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 believe that alters the entire balance of the foundation they've established over the recent years."

Although praising Jacob Bethell as "a hugely gifted cricketer", Cook said: "It would represent a major risk [to pick him] because if that doesn’t work what is the fallback option, a player you recently discarded? They’ve invested so much in people like Pope and [Crawley that it would be highly odd to make a switch at this stage."

Leadership Shift and Broadcast Crew

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

"The management has acted decisively on that, thinking if there is an injury to Ben Stokes, they have a player in Harry Brook who has taken the [captaincy of the] one-day side and everyone has seen that he seems to be well suited to it. This will relieve Pope. I believe it won't undermine him. I’m sure it will have disappointed him because whenever you're removed from a leadership thing it wouldn’t be ideal, but I don’t think it diminishes his standing."

Cook will be in Australia as part of the broadcast team of the series, and will be joined by fellow Ashes winners Steven Finn and Swann as in-studio analysts. The network will offer a dedicated commentary stream but will use a mixed approach, with play-by-play announcers Eykyn and Rob Hatch to work off-site in the United Kingdom, while Cook, Finn and Swann deliver expert analysis from on location. Ebony Rainford-Brent is also part of the broadcast team working off-site, with the on-ground coverage to be hosted by Becky Ives.