Kevin Pietersen, Michael Vaughan and David Warner have all made their Ashes predictions as Australia bid to retain the urn against England.
The five-match Test series begins in the early hours of Friday morning at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
England have lost the last three Ashes series in Australia by an aggregate scoreline of 13-0 and won just one series Down Under since 1987.
But it has been suggested that England have their best chance in 15 years to win back the urn on Australian soil.
England have largely impressed under head coach Brendon McCullum and superstar captain Ben Stokes, blowing away several teams with their attacking brand of cricket.
For all that has been made of Australia’s ageing squad, the hosts are ranked No. 1 in the world in Test cricket and reached the World Test Championship final last summer.
Pietersen expects England to win a Test match in Australia for the first time since 2011 but fears a series win is beyond even Stokes and his team.
Speaking to former Australia rival Brad Haddin on the Willow Talk Cricket Podcast, Pietersen said: ‘I think it’s hard for England to win in Australia, very hard.
‘It’s hard for them to win a whole series out there. Can they win a Test match? I think they can with the way they play if everything falls into place, for sure.
‘But it will be hard to win the whole series so I have Australia up – but I think it might be tightly contested.’
While Pietersen expects Australia to retain the Ashes, two of his former England teammates from the 2010-11 series win are more hopeful.
‘I’m going 3-1 England, I have to back England,’ ex-England captain Alastair Cook told TNT Sports.
‘Is there a chance? There is an absolute chance that England will win this series, a big chance.
‘They’re not favourites, Australia are favourites, we know that in their home conditions.
‘But what I do know is this England side has the fire and capability, that if things go well and they get on the right side of the luck and they play well, they can definitely, definitely cause some serious damage to this Australian side.’
Former England spinner Graeme Swann added: ‘I think every game will be a result and I think England will pip it 3-2.’
Glenn McGrath has already provided his customary 5-0 prediction, insisting it will be ‘interesting’ to see if the tourists can win a single Test.
‘It’s very rare for me to make a prediction, isn’t it? And I can’t make a different one – 5-0 to Australia,’ he told BBC Sport.
‘I’m very confident with our team. When you’ve got Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon firing in their home conditions, it’s going to be pretty tough.
‘Plus, that track record England have had, it’d be interesting to see if they can win a Test.’
Former Australia opener David Warner is just as optimistic for a home win, adding: ‘I think Australia 4-0.
‘There’s going to be a washout somewhere, generally Sydney. If the captain [Cummins] doesn’t play, they [England] might win one game.’
England legend James Anderson, who retired from international cricket last year, says there are ‘cracks’ in the Australian team but insists the hosts are still ‘favourites’ to win the series.
‘I don’t think England are quite favourites, I’d say Australia are still favourites, in Australia,’ Anderson told TNT Sports.
‘There are question marks there, definitely, and there are cracks that England could potentially expose. There’s a great chance for England to get on top early.
‘They probably just edge out England in terms of being favourites, but I don’t think there’s much in it. It’s a tough one to call, so I’d say Australia, just.’
England’s 2005 Ashes-winning captain Vaughan, meanwhile, cannot split the two teams.
‘As long as Ben Stokes stays fit, I think this series is going to be 2-2,’ he said on X.
‘England to win the first Test in Perth with no Pat Cummins or Josh Hazlewood. As long as there’s no more injuries before it starts, that’s my final prediction.’
After the first Ashes Test in Perth, the two teams travel to Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney to finish one of the most eagerly anticipated series in memory.
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