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The pre-Ashes verbal sparring continues to heat up, with ex-England paceman Broad stating that the English side will confront "probably the worst Aussie squad in over a decade" on tour this season.

David Warner's Confident Forecast Answered by Doubt

Broad's assertion came as a reply to Warner – an Ashes foe of Broad’s – predicting a 4-0 victory 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 Ashes match at home since England’s 3-1 victory in the 2010-11 tour. Their 5-0 win in the following series – on the back of seven defeats in their previous nine Tests – was followed by 4-0 Ashes triumphs in the 2017-18 and 2021-22 campaigns.

Team Uncertainty and Injury Worries for the Hosts

Yet, the No 1-ranked Test team, who have lost only one of their past 13 bilateral series, approach the forthcoming contest with questions over the makeup of their batting lineup and the health of Cummins, who is doubtful to play in the opening match at the Perth stadium because of a back injury.

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

"The Aussies face the greatest expectations because they’re anticipated to prevail, they’re brilliant at home, but they’ve got question marks over their squad and concerns over their captain’s fitness. You wouldn’t be outlandish in believing – it’s actually not an opinion, it's a reality – it is likely the weakest Aussie lineup since 2010. And it’s the best English team in over a decade. So those things match up to the reality that it’s going to be a thrilling Ashes series."

Comparison to 2010-11 Tour

"The Australians have remained highly stable for a long period of time that you just knew who would open the batting, who was going to bat, what bowlers there were, and they don’t have that. It’s very much 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 lose in Australia 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 Dilemma for the Visitors

A major issue for England remains their selection at No 3, with Pope and Bethell contesting the spot. Alastair Cook, whose 766 runs paved the way for the tourists’ series win over a decade past, thinks it would be "unusual" for Ben Stokes’ side to move away from Pope, who has been a consistent at number three for the past three seasons.

"I'd select Ollie Pope at three," said Cook. "I think it’s quite an easy decision. They have a player who has been part of this buildup for three or four years. He’s captained the side, he’s played remarkable performances 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 what they’ve built up over the last few years."

Although praising Bethell as "an incredibly talented player", Cook added: "It would be a big, big gamble [to pick him] because if that doesn’t work what is the fallback option, a player you recently discarded? They have committed heavily in players such as Pope and [Crawley that it would be such a strange thing to change it now."

Leadership Shift and Broadcast Team

Ollie Pope has been replaced by Harry 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, thinking if there is an injury to Ben Stokes, they have a player in Brook who has led the ODI team and it's evident that he appears a natural fit. That will just relieve Pope. I believe it won't undermine him. I’m sure it will have hurt him because anytime you get taken off a leadership role it isn't perfect, but I don’t think it diminishes his standing."

Cook will be in the host nation as part of TNT’s coverage of the series, and will be accompanied by former Ashes champions Steven Finn and Swann as in-studio analysts. The network will provide its own audio feed but will use a mixed approach, with commentators Alastair Eykyn and Rob Hatch to work off-site in the United Kingdom, while the trio provide co-commentary from on location. Rainford-Brent is also part of the broadcast team working off-site, with the on-ground coverage to be hosted by Ives.