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The pre-Ashes verbal sparring continues to heat up, with former England paceman Broad stating that the English side will confront "probably the worst Australian team since 2010" on tour this season.

Warner's Confident Forecast Answered by Skepticism

The former England bowler's claim was in response to Warner – an Ashes foe of Broad’s – predicting 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 Ashes match at home after England's series win in the 2010-11 tour. The subsequent 5-0 whitewash three years later – following seven defeats in their previous nine Tests – was followed by 4-0 series victories in 2017-18 and 2021-22.

Squad Doubt and Fitness Concerns for the Hosts

Yet, the top-ranked Test side, who have lost only one of their last thirteen series, enter the upcoming assignment with questions over the composition of their top order and the health of 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 English team, or any side," said Broad during his podcast. "The Australians are massive favourites."

"The Aussies face the most pressure because they’re expected to win, they’re formidable in home conditions, but they’ve got doubts 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 reality – it is likely the worst Australian team since the 2010 era. And it’s the best England squad in over a decade. So those things point towards the fact that it’s going to be a brilliant Ashes series."

Parallel to 2010-11 Tour

"Australia have been so consistent for a long period of time that it was clear who would open the batting, who was going to bat, what bowlers there were, and they don’t have that. It closely resembles a comparable scenario to 2010-11 when England traveled and emerged victorious. The reality is Australia generally have to be bad to be defeated at home and England must excel. England have a great chance of being very good and the Australians face a real possibility of being bad."

Selection Dilemma for the Visitors

A major issue for England remains their choice at No 3, with Ollie Pope and Jacob Bethell vying for the role. Cook, whose 766 runs paved the way for the tourists’ series win 15 years ago, thinks it would be "strange" for Stokes' team to move away from Ollie Pope, who has been a regular at first drop for the last three years.

"I would bat Ollie Pope at three," Cook stated. "In my view it’s a straightforward decision. They have someone who’s been part of this buildup for three or four years. He has led the team, he’s played some extraordinary innings for England and he’s a hundred-maker. He knows how to make big scores in the domestic game. If they drop him now, I believe that changes the whole dynamic of the foundation they've established over the last few years."

Although praising Jacob Bethell as "an incredibly talented player", Cook added: "It would represent a major risk [to pick him] because should it fail where do you move back to, a player you recently discarded? They have committed heavily in people like Pope and [Zak] Crawley that it would be highly odd to make a switch at this stage."

Leadership Shift and Commentary Crew

Ollie Pope has been succeeded by Brook as England’s vice-captain but, as per Cook, that will "ease the burden on" the Surrey right-hander.

"The management has acted decisively on that, considering if there is an injury to Stokes, they have a player in Harry Brook who has led the ODI team and everyone has seen that he appears a natural fit. That will just take the pressure off. I believe it won't undermine him. Certainly it will have disappointed him because anytime you get taken off a leadership role it wouldn’t be ideal, but I don’t think it undermines him."

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 Graeme Swann as on-the-ground pundits. The network will provide its own audio feed but will use a mixed approach, with play-by-play announcers Eykyn and Hatch based remotely in the United Kingdom, while Cook, Finn and Swann deliver expert analysis from Australia. Rainford-Brent is also part of the broadcast team operating remotely, with the on-ground coverage to be hosted by Ives.