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

David Warner's Confident Forecast Met With Skepticism

The former England bowler's claim came as a reply to Warner – an Ashes foe of Broad’s – predicting a 4-0 victory for the hosts. "Should the skipper [Pat Cummins] be absent, they could perhaps snatch a single victory," Warner commented.

Australia have not lost a Ashes match at home since England’s 3-1 victory in the 2010-11 tour. The subsequent 5-0 whitewash three years later – following seven defeats in their previous nine Tests – came before 4-0 series victories in the 2017-18 and 2021-22 campaigns.

Squad Uncertainty and Injury Worries for the Hosts

Yet, the top-ranked Test side, who have lost only one of their past 13 bilateral series, enter the upcoming assignment with questions over the makeup of their batting lineup and the health of Pat Cummins, who is unlikely to feature in the opening match at the Perth stadium because of a back injury.

"It’s very, very difficult to win in Australia as an English team, or any side," said Broad on his podcast. "The Australians are massive favourites."

"Australia are under the greatest expectations 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. It's not unreasonable in thinking – this isn't merely a view, it’s a fact – it’s probably 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 Historic Tour

"Australia have been highly stable for a prolonged duration that you just knew who would open the innings, who was going to bat, what bowlers there were, and they lack that certainty now. It closely resembles a comparable scenario to 2010-11 when England went and won there. The reality is Australia generally have to be bad to lose in Australia and England must excel. England have a great chance of performing exceptionally and the Australians face a real possibility of being bad."

Team Dilemma for the Visitors

A major issue for the English camp remains their choice at No 3, with Pope and Bethell vying for the role. Cook, whose 766 runs set up the visitors' series victory over a decade past, thinks it would be "strange" for Ben Stokes’ side to abandon Ollie Pope, who has been a regular at number three for the past three seasons.

"I would bat Ollie Pope at number three," said Cook. "In my view it’s a straightforward decision. They have someone who’s been involved in this preparation for several years. He has led the team, he’s played remarkable performances for the national side and he’s a hundred-maker. He knows how to score hundreds in the domestic game. 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 represent a big, big gamble [to pick him] because if that doesn’t work 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 seem such a strange thing to change it now."

Captaincy Change and Commentary Team

Ollie Pope has been succeeded 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, considering in case of an injury to Stokes, they’ve got a guy in Brook who has led the ODI team and everyone has seen that he seems to be well suited to it. That will just relieve Pope. I believe it won't undermine him. Certainly it will have disappointed him because whenever you're removed from a leadership role it wouldn’t be ideal, but I don’t think it diminishes his standing."

Cook will be in the host nation as part of TNT’s coverage of the Ashes, and will be joined by fellow Ashes winners Finn and Graeme Swann as on-the-ground pundits. The channel will provide its own audio feed but will operate a hybrid model, with commentators Alastair Eykyn and Rob Hatch to work off-site in the United Kingdom, while the trio deliver expert analysis from on location. Ebony Rainford-Brent is also part of the broadcast team operating remotely, with the live presentation to be presented by Ives.