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The war of words before the Ashes continues to heat up, with ex-England bowler Stuart Broad stating that the English side will face "arguably the weakest Aussie squad in over a decade" during their tour this winter.

Warner's Confident Forecast Met With Doubt

The former England bowler's claim came as a reply to David Warner – a long-time Ashes rival – forecasting 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 men’s Ashes match at home since England’s series win in 2010-11. Their 5-0 win in the following series – following seven defeats in their last nine matches – came before 4-0 Ashes triumphs in the 2017-18 and 2021-22 campaigns.

Team Doubt and Fitness Concerns for the Hosts

However, the No 1-ranked Test team, who have suffered just a single defeat of their last thirteen series, enter the upcoming assignment with questions over the makeup of their batting lineup and the fitness of Cummins, who is doubtful to play in the first Test at Perth because of a back injury.

"It's extremely challenging to triumph on Australian soil as an England side, or any visiting team," Broad remarked during his podcast. "The Australians are strong favorites."

"Australia are under the most pressure because they’re expected to win, they’re brilliant at home, but they’ve got doubts over their team and question marks over their captain’s fitness. It's not unreasonable in believing – this isn't merely a view, it’s a fact – it is likely the worst Australian team since 2010. Meanwhile, it's the strongest English team since 2010. These factors match up to the reality that it’s going to be a thrilling Ashes series."

Comparison to 2010-11 Series

"Australia have been highly stable for a prolonged duration that you just knew who would open the batting, who was going to bat, which bowlers were available, 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 be defeated at home and England have to be very good. England have a great chance of being very good and Australia have a decent chance of being bad."

Team Decision for the Visitors

A key question for England remains their selection at No 3, with Ollie Pope and Jacob Bethell vying for the role. Cook, whose prolific scoring set up the visitors' series victory 15 years ago, believes it would be "unusual" for Ben Stokes’ side to abandon Ollie Pope, who has been a regular at first drop for the last three years.

"I would bat Pope at number three," said Cook. "In my view it’s a straightforward decision. They have a player who has been part of this buildup for three or four years. He has led the team, he has delivered remarkable performances for England and he’s a hundred-maker. He knows how to make big scores in the domestic game. If you get rid of him now, I think that alters the entire balance of what they’ve built up over the last few years."

While hailing Jacob Bethell as "a hugely gifted cricketer", Cook said: "It would be a major risk [to pick him] because should it fail what is the fallback option, a player you recently discarded? They’ve invested so much in players such as Pope and [Zak] Crawley that it would be highly odd to change it now."

Leadership Change and Broadcast Team

Ollie Pope has been succeeded by Harry Brook as the team's deputy skipper but, according to 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 Ben 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 believe it won't undermine him. I’m sure it will have hurt him because anytime you get taken off a leadership role it wouldn’t be ideal, 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 former Ashes champions 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 Rob Hatch to work off-site in the UK, while Cook, Finn and Swann provide co-commentary from Australia. Ebony Rainford-Brent is also part of the broadcast team operating remotely, with the live presentation to be hosted by Becky Ives.