According to former England fast bowler Stuart Broad, it is a fact that the Australian team for the upcoming Ashes is their weakest  since 2010.

Broad, who now works as a TV pundit, has helped crank up the “war of words” before the first Test in Perth on November 21 in response to former Australia opener David Warner predicting a 4-0 victory for the hosts.

Broad told the BBC’s ‘For the Love of Cricket’ podcast: “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.”

Broad retired as a player after the 2023 Ashes series in England when Australia kept hold of the urn after the series ended 2-2.

He was a member of the England squad when they last triumphed in Australia in 2010-2011, winning 3-1 under captain Andrew Strauss to retain the urn.

He took particular delight in any success against the Aussies, notably taking 8 wickets for 15 runs at Trent Bridge in 2015, and became a pantomime villain when refusing to walk after edging a ball to slip in 2013.

“It’s very, very difficult to win in Australia as an England side, or any side – it just is,” Broad said.

“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 captain (Pat Cummins).”

Cummins, sidelined since July due to lumbar bone stress in his back, has said he is “less likely than likely” to play in the opening Test.

Broad added: “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.

“I don’t think anyone could argue that it’s their weakest team since 2010… it’s just a fact.”

Warner, speaking earlier this week, urged Australia’s selectors to stick with Sam Konstas for the Ashes, wanting the young opener to be given time to find himself in Test cricket.

Konstas will today (Wednesday) resume the battle to keep his spot at the top of the order when NSW face a Victorian attack led by Scott Boland in the Sheffield Shield.

The opening role has been an issue for selectors since Warner’s retirement in January 2024, with five separate men partnering Usman Khawaja in the 15 Tests.

Marnus Labuschagne has emerged as the front-runner to take on the role this summer, after three centuries in four games for Queensland across all formats.

But while Warner does believe Labuschagne should be back in Australia’s team, the 112-Test veteran feels the Queenslander’s best position is at No.3 for the summer.

That would require Cameron Green returning into the middle order, while also leaving selectors with a decision to make at the top for the first Test against England in Perth starting November 21.

“I’d like them to try and probably stick with Sam and give him a crack,” Warner said at the Fox Cricket launch on Monday.

“He scored that hundred in the Australian A series (in India last month). He batted outstanding there.

“I don’t think we’ve seen exactly what we know Sam Konstas can do.

“Last year coming out, he probably got overwhelmed by the occasion and we saw some very highlighted cricket.

“But I’ve seen him build innings, I’ve seen him play some fantastic innings and I’d like to see him go back to just doing that.”

If anyone can speak to the battle Konstas is facing, it’s Warner.

He himself became an overnight sensation for Australia in T20s with his debut in 2009, before making his Test debut almost three years later.

Konstas captured headlines last year with a flurry of scoop shots aimed at unsettling Jasprit Bumrah, on his way to 60.

But the 20-year-old but has struggled to find balance in his four Tests since, with no score over 25.

“Last year I felt like he just got caught up in the occasions,” Warner said of his Sydney Thunder teammate.

“He got caught up in thinking that it was the only way to play that way against Jasprit Bumrah and then did it to the other players.

“I don’t think he needed to change his game to the other bowlers.

“I’ve seen him build innings, I’ve seen him play some fantastic innings and I’d like to see him go back to just doing that.”

Warner believes the 39-year-old Khawaja will play a key part in that for Konstas, as calm head at the other end in what may be his last summer.

“Uzi used to do that to me all the time,” Warner said.

“You learn that with batting with someone, that’s a partnership.

“That’s where I think you need to keep that stability there. And if he does stay there, they’ll work very well together.”