Australia Ashes Favourites Despite 'weak' Team - Anderson

England awesome Sir James Anderson says Australia are favourites to triumph nan Ashes contempt agreeing pinch erstwhile team-mate Stuart Broad nan hosts person their "weakest" squad for 15 years.

Broad past period said nan existent Australia broadside is nan worst since 2010 successful consequence to erstwhile opener David Warner's prediction England will suffer nan upcoming bid 4-0.

Anderson and Broad were some portion of England's past triumph down nether successful 2010-11, but nan visitors person suffered dense defeats of 5-0, 4-0 and 4-0 successful their 3 tours of Australia since.

"I don't deliberation England are rather favourites, I'd opportunity Australia are still favourites, successful Australia," Anderson told TNT Sports.

The first Test starts successful Perth connected Friday, 21 November and Australia will beryllium led by Steve Smith successful nan absence of injured skipper Pat Cummins.

Fast bowler Cummins says he is "on track" to person recovered from a little backmost wounded successful clip to play nan 2nd Test, a day-night lucifer successful Brisbane starting connected 4 December.

Australia besides person uncertainty complete who is going to bat successful their apical three.

Usman Khawaja is group to open, but nan hosts must determine betwixt giving a debut to opener Jake Weatherald, recalling nan in-form Marnus Labuschagne arsenic either an opener aliases astatine number 3 and whether to instrumentality pinch all-rounder Cameron Green astatine 3 aliases move him down nan order.

Anderson said those issues, compared to really accordant Australia's squad action has been successful nan past 10 years, mean this is "probably their weakest team" since 2010-11.

"There are mobility marks there, definitely, and location are cracks that England could perchance expose," he added. "There's a awesome chance for England to get connected apical early."

However, England's all-time starring wicket-taker said location is still a batch of "quality" successful Australia's batting and bowling - moreover pinch nan "huge" absence of Cummins.

He said: "They astir apt conscionable separator retired England successful position of being favourites, but I don't deliberation there's overmuch successful it. It's a reliable 1 to call, truthful I'd opportunity Australia, just."