🔗 Share this article

The pre-Ashes verbal sparring continues to heat up, with former England paceman Stuart Broad stating that the English side will face "probably the worst Aussie squad since 2010" on tour this season.

Warner's Confident Forecast Answered by Skepticism

The former England bowler's claim was in response to David Warner – an Ashes foe of Broad’s – 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 Ashes match on home soil after England's 3-1 victory in 2010-11. The subsequent 5-0 whitewash three years later – following seven losses in their last nine matches – came before 4-0 series victories in the 2017-18 and 2021-22 campaigns.

Team Doubt and Fitness Concerns for the Hosts

Yet, the No 1-ranked Test side, who have lost only one of their past 13 bilateral series, enter the upcoming assignment with questions over the composition of their top order and the health of Cummins, who is doubtful to play in the first Test at Perth because of a back injury.

"It’s very, very difficult to win in Australia as an England side, or any side," Broad remarked 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 question marks over their skipper's condition. You wouldn’t be outlandish in thinking – it’s actually not an opinion, it's a reality – it is likely the weakest Aussie lineup since the 2010 era. Meanwhile, it's the strongest England squad since 2010. These factors point towards the reality that it’s going to be a thrilling Ashes series."

Comparison to Historic Series

"The Australians have remained highly stable for a prolonged duration that it was clear who would open the batting, who would bat, which bowlers were available, and they don’t have that. It closely resembles a similar situation to the 2010-11 period when England went and won there. The reality is the Aussies typically need to underperform 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 underperforming."

Selection Dilemma for the Visitors

A key question for the English camp remains their choice at No 3, with Ollie Pope and Jacob Bethell vying for the role. Alastair Cook, whose 766 runs paved the way for the tourists’ series win 15 years ago, thinks it would be "unusual" for Stokes' team to abandon Pope, who has been a consistent at first drop for the last three years.

"I'd select Ollie Pope at number three," Cook stated. "I think it’s a straightforward choice. They have someone who’s been involved in this preparation for three or four years. He’s captained the side, he’s played some extraordinary innings for the national side and he scores centuries. He knows how to score hundreds in first-class cricket. If you get rid of him now, I believe that alters the entire balance of the foundation they've established over the last few years."

Although praising Bethell as "an incredibly talented player", Cook said: "It would be a big, big gamble [to pick him] because should it fail where do you move back to, a player you recently discarded? They’ve invested so much in players such as Pope and [Zak] Crawley that it would seem highly odd to make a switch at this stage."

Captaincy Change and Commentary Team

Ollie Pope has been succeeded by Harry Brook as England’s vice-captain but, according to Cook, that will "ease the burden on" the Surrey batsman.

"The management has acted decisively on that, considering in case of an injury to Stokes, they have a player in Brook who has led the ODI team and it's evident that he appears well suited to it. That will just take the pressure off. I believe it won't undermine him. I’m sure it will have hurt him because whenever you're removed from a leadership thing it isn't perfect, 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 fellow Ashes winners Finn and Swann as in-studio analysts. The channel will provide its own audio feed but will use a mixed approach, with commentators Alastair Eykyn and Hatch to work off-site in the UK, while the trio provide co-commentary from on location. Ebony Rainford-Brent is also part of the commentary team operating remotely, with the live presentation to be presented by Ives.