🔗 Share this article Pre-Ashes Trash Talk Intensifies as Broad Calls Australia the Weakest Since 2010 The war of words before the Ashes continues to heat up, with former England bowler Broad stating that England will confront "arguably the weakest Aussie squad since 2010" during their tour this season. Warner's Bold Prediction Met With Skepticism Broad's assertion came as a reply to David Warner – a long-time Ashes rival – forecasting a 4-0 victory for the home side. "If the captain [Pat Cummins] doesn’t play, they might win one game," Warner commented. Australia have not lost a Ashes match at home since England’s series win in 2010-11. Their 5-0 win three years later – on the back of seven defeats in their last nine matches – came before 4-0 Ashes triumphs in 2017-18 and 2021-22. Team Doubt and Fitness Concerns for Australia However, the No 1-ranked Test side, who have lost only one of their past 13 bilateral series, enter the upcoming assignment with uncertainty over the makeup of their top order and the fitness of Cummins, who is unlikely to feature 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," said Broad on his podcast. "Australia have to be massive favourites." "The Aussies face the most pressure because they’re expected to win, they’re formidable in home conditions, but they’ve got question marks over their team and concerns over their captain’s fitness. 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 2010. And it’s the best English team in over a decade. These factors point towards the fact that it’s going to be a thrilling contest." Comparison to Historic Series "The Australians have remained so consistent for a prolonged duration that you just knew who was going to open the batting, who was going to bat, what bowlers there were, and they don’t have that. It’s very much a comparable scenario to 2010-11 when England went and won there. The reality is Australia generally have to be bad to be defeated at home and England must excel. The English have a solid opportunity of performing exceptionally and the Australians face a real possibility of underperforming." Selection Dilemma for the Visitors A major issue for England remains their selection at the number three position, with Pope and Bethell contesting the spot. Alastair Cook, whose 766 runs set up the visitors' series victory over a decade past, believes it would be "strange" for Ben Stokes’ side to abandon Pope, who has been a consistent at number three for the last three years. "I'd select Pope at number three," said Cook. "In my view it’s quite an easy choice. You’ve got a player who has been involved in this preparation for three or four years. He has led the team, he’s played some extraordinary innings for England and he’s a hundred-maker. He knows how to make big scores 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 Jacob Bethell as "a hugely gifted cricketer", Cook said: "It would be 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’ve invested so much in people like Pope and [Crawley that it would be highly odd to make a switch at this stage." Captaincy Shift and Broadcast Team Ollie Pope has been succeeded by 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 Ben Stokes, they’ve got a guy in Brook who has taken the [captaincy of the] one-day side and everyone has seen that he appears well suited to it. This will take the pressure off. I believe it won't undermine him. I’m sure it will have disappointed him because anytime you get taken off a leadership thing it isn't perfect, but I don’t think it undermines him." Alastair Cook will be in Australia as part of TNT’s coverage of the series, and will be joined by fellow Ashes winners Steven Finn and Swann as on-the-ground pundits. The network will offer a dedicated commentary stream but will use a mixed approach, with play-by-play announcers Alastair Eykyn and Rob Hatch based remotely in the United Kingdom, while Cook, Finn and Swann deliver expert analysis from on location. Rainford-Brent is also part of the commentary team operating remotely, with the live presentation to be presented by Becky Ives.