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The pre-Ashes verbal sparring continues to heat up, with ex-England paceman Broad declaring that England will face "arguably the weakest Australian team in over a decade" during their tour this winter.

David Warner's Confident Forecast Met With Doubt

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

Australia have not lost a Ashes match on home soil after England's 3-1 victory in 2010-11. The subsequent 5-0 whitewash three years later – following seven defeats in their previous nine Tests – was followed by 4-0 series victories in the 2017-18 and 2021-22 campaigns.

Team Doubt and Injury Concerns for the Hosts

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

"It's extremely challenging to win in Australia as an England side, or any side," Broad remarked during his podcast. "Australia have to be strong favorites."

"The Aussies face the most pressure because they’re expected to win, they’re brilliant at home, but they’ve got doubts over their squad and question marks over their captain’s fitness. It's not unreasonable in believing – it’s actually not an opinion, it's a reality – it’s probably the worst Australian team since the 2010 era. Meanwhile, it's the strongest English team since 2010. So those things point towards the fact that it’s going to be a thrilling Ashes series."

Parallel to Historic Series

"The Australians have remained highly stable for a long period of time that it was clear who was going to open the innings, who was going to bat, which bowlers were available, and they don’t have that. It closely resembles a similar situation to 2010-11 when England went and won there. The fact of the matter is the Aussies typically need to underperform 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."

Selection Decision for the Visitors

A key question for the English camp remains their selection 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 over a decade past, believes it would be "strange" for Stokes' team to move away from Pope, who has been a consistent at number three for the last three years.

"I would bat Ollie Pope at three," said Cook. "In my view it’s quite an easy choice. 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 understands how to make big scores in the domestic game. If you get rid of him now, I think that alters the entire balance of the foundation they've established over the last few years."

Although praising Jacob Bethell as "a hugely gifted cricketer", Cook added: "It would represent a big, big gamble [to pick him] because should it fail where do you move back to, someone you’ve just got rid of? They have committed heavily in people like Pope and [Crawley that it would be such a strange thing to make a switch at this stage."

Leadership Change and Broadcast Crew

Ollie Pope has been replaced by Brook as the team's deputy skipper but, according to Cook, that will "ease the burden on" the Surrey batsman.

"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 seems to be well suited to it. That will just relieve Pope. I don’t think undermine him. I’m sure 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 TNT’s coverage of the Ashes, and will be accompanied by former Ashes champions Steven Finn and Swann as on-the-ground pundits. The network will provide its own audio feed but will use a mixed approach, with commentators Eykyn and Hatch to work off-site in the United Kingdom, while the trio deliver expert analysis from Australia. Ebony Rainford-Brent is also part of the commentary team operating remotely, with the live presentation to be presented by Becky Ives.