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The pre-Ashes verbal sparring continues to heat up, with former England bowler Broad declaring that England will confront "probably the worst Australian team since 2010" during their tour this season.

David Warner's Bold Prediction Answered by Doubt

The former England bowler's claim came as a reply to Warner – a long-time Ashes rival – predicting a clean sweep for the home side. "Should the skipper [Pat Cummins] be absent, they could perhaps snatch a single victory," Warner commented.

The Aussies remain undefeated in a men’s Ashes match on home soil since England’s series win in the 2010-11 tour. The subsequent 5-0 whitewash in the following series – on the back of seven losses in their previous nine Tests – came before 4-0 series victories in 2017-18 and 2021-22.

Team Uncertainty and Fitness Worries for the Hosts

However, the No 1-ranked Test team, 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 health of Pat Cummins, who is unlikely to feature in the opening match at Perth because of a back injury.

"It’s very, very difficult to triumph on Australian soil as an English team, or any side," Broad remarked on his podcast. "Australia have to be massive favourites."

"Australia are under the most pressure because they’re anticipated to prevail, they’re formidable in home conditions, but they’ve got question marks over their team and concerns over their captain’s fitness. You wouldn’t be outlandish in believing – this isn't merely a view, it's a reality – it is likely the worst Australian team since 2010. And it’s the best England squad since 2010. So those things point towards the reality that it’s going to be a brilliant contest."

Parallel to Historic Series

"Australia have been so consistent for a long period of time that you just knew who would open the innings, who was going to bat, which bowlers were available, and they don’t have that. It closely resembles a comparable scenario to the 2010-11 period when England went and won there. The fact of the matter is the Aussies typically need to underperform to be defeated at home and England have to be very good. The English have a solid opportunity of performing exceptionally and Australia have a decent chance of being bad."

Selection Decision for the Visitors

A key question for the English camp remains their selection at No 3, with Ollie Pope and Bethell vying for the role. Cook, whose 766 runs 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 regular at first drop for the past three seasons.

"I would bat Ollie Pope at number three," Cook stated. "I think it’s a straightforward choice. You’ve got someone who’s been involved in this preparation for three or four years. He has led the team, he has delivered remarkable performances for the national side and he’s a hundred-maker. He understands how to make big scores in the domestic game. If you get rid of him now, I believe that alters the entire balance of the foundation they've established over the recent years."

While hailing Bethell as "a hugely gifted cricketer", Cook added: "It would represent a major risk [to pick him] because if that doesn’t work where do you move back to, a player you recently discarded? They’ve invested so much in players such as Ollie Pope and [Crawley that it would be such a strange thing to make a switch at this stage."

Captaincy Change and Commentary Crew

Pope has been replaced 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, 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. This will take the pressure off. I don’t think weaken his position. I’m sure it will have hurt him because anytime you get taken off a leadership role it isn't perfect, but I doubt it undermines him."

Cook will be in the host nation 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 provide its own audio feed but will operate a hybrid model, with play-by-play announcers Alastair Eykyn and Rob Hatch based remotely in the UK, while the trio deliver expert analysis from on location. Ebony Rainford-Brent is also part of the commentary team working off-site, with the on-ground coverage to be presented by Becky Ives.