While former England pacer Stuart Broad believes that Australia are favourites to win the Ashes, which commences next month, he pointed out some areas of concern in the Pat Cummins-led side which could be exploited by Ben Stokes and Co.
According to Broad, Australia are heading into the Ashes with their worst team since 2010. The cricketer-turned-commentator commented in response to former Australia opener David Warner's prediction that England would lose the series 4-0 Down Under.
England's last Ashes
win in Australia came in 2010-11, when Broad was part of a squad that won 3-1 to retain the urn. However, in their three subsequent tours, the Three Lions have been handed heavy defeats of 5-0, 4-0, and 4-0.
"It's very, very difficult to win in Australia as an England side, or any side - it just is. Australia have to be massive favourites. The question really was 'Which team's under the most pressure?' Well, Australia are under the most pressure because they're expected to win. They're brilliant at home. But they've got question marks over their team and question marks over [the fitness of] captain [Pat Cummins]," Broad mentioned on the For the Love of Cricket podcast on BBC Sounds.
Australia currently have possession of the prestigious urn, having retained it during the most recent meeting between the two age-old rivals in 2023 in the United Kingdom. Incidentally, Broad retired from international cricket during this series, which ended 2-2.
"You wouldn't be outlandish in thinking - it's actually not an opinion, it's a fact - it's probably the worst Australian team since 2010 when England last won, and it's the best English team since 2010. So those things match up to the fact it's going to be a brilliant Ashes series," he added.
I don't think anyone could argue that it's their weakest team since 2010: Broad
Broad commended Australia's consistency over the years but noted that heading into the Ashes, they have certain roles in batting and bowling which are not fixed. The 39-year-old said that Australia have to play bad cricket for them to lose at home and he feels that is pretty much possible this time around.
"Australia have been so consistent for a long period of time that you just knew who was going to open the batting, who was going to bat where, what bowlers there were - and they don't have that. It's very much a similar situation to 2010-2011 when England went and won there," Broad said.
"The fact of the matter is Australia generally have to be bad to lose in Australia 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. I don't think anyone could argue that it's their weakest team since 2010 it's just a fact," he concluded.
