🔗 Share this article

The war of words before the Ashes is escalating further, with ex-England bowler Stuart Broad declaring that the English side will face "probably the worst Australian team since 2010" on tour this winter.

Warner's Confident Forecast Answered by Skepticism

The former England bowler's claim was in response to Warner – an Ashes foe of Broad’s – predicting a 4-0 victory 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 at home since England’s 3-1 victory in 2010-11. The subsequent 5-0 whitewash three years later – on the back of seven defeats in their last nine matches – came before 4-0 Ashes triumphs in the 2017-18 and 2021-22 campaigns.

Team Doubt and Injury Worries for Australia

Yet, the top-ranked Test side, who have lost only one of their last thirteen series, approach the forthcoming contest with uncertainty over the makeup of their top order and the fitness of Cummins, who is doubtful to play in the first Test at the Perth stadium because of a back issue.

"It’s very, very difficult to triumph on Australian soil as an England side, or any side," said Broad during his podcast. "The Australians are massive favourites."

"The Aussies face the greatest expectations because they’re anticipated to prevail, they’re brilliant at home, but they’ve got question marks 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 fact – it is likely the worst Australian team since the 2010 era. And it’s the best England squad in over a decade. These factors point towards the reality that it’s going to be a brilliant contest."

Comparison to Historic Series

"Australia have been so consistent for a prolonged duration that it was clear who was going to open the batting, who would bat, what bowlers there were, and they lack that certainty now. It closely resembles a similar situation to the 2010-11 period 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 must excel. The English have a solid opportunity of being very good and Australia have a decent chance of being bad."

Team Decision for the Visitors

A major issue for England remains their choice at No 3, with Pope and Jacob Bethell contesting the spot. Cook, whose 766 runs set up the visitors' series victory over a decade past, thinks it would be "unusual" for Stokes' team to move away from Pope, who has been a regular at number three for the last three years.

"I'd select Pope at number three," said Cook. "I think it’s quite an easy decision. You’ve got a player who has been involved in this preparation for several years. He’s captained the side, he’s played some extraordinary innings for England and he scores centuries. He knows how to score hundreds in the domestic game. If you get rid of him now, I believe that alters the entire balance of what they’ve built up over the last few years."

While hailing Bethell as "a hugely gifted cricketer", Cook said: "It would represent a major risk [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 Ollie Pope and [Crawley that it would seem such a strange thing to make a switch at this stage."

Captaincy Change and Commentary Crew

Pope has been succeeded by Brook as England’s vice-captain but, according to Cook, that will "take the pressure off" the Surrey right-hander.

"They’ve been proactive on that, thinking if there is an injury to Stokes, they’ve got a guy in Brook who has taken the [captaincy of the] one-day side and it's evident that he appears a natural fit. That will just take the pressure off. I believe it won't weaken his position. Certainly 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 the host nation as part of the broadcast team of the Ashes, and will be accompanied by former Ashes champions Steven Finn and Graeme Swann as in-studio analysts. The network will provide its own audio feed but will use a mixed approach, with play-by-play announcers Eykyn and Hatch to work off-site in the UK, while Cook, Finn and Swann provide co-commentary from on location. Ebony Rainford-Brent is also part of the broadcast team working off-site, with the live presentation to be presented by Ives.