England Bowling Consultant Tim Southee Unsure on Ashes Participation
Tim Southee's last Test for the Kiwis was versus the English side in the final month of 2024.
England's bowling consultant Southee is still working through what his involvement will be at the upcoming Ashes series in the host nation.
The ex- Kiwi pace bowler is only likely to be available for the first Test due to his involvement in the International League T20 tournament, which begins on 2 December in the UAE.
Southee, 36, assumed a position as the English team's fast bowling consultant in the summer after taking 391 wickets in 107 Test matches for New Zealand.
Speaking as England's squad for the first of three Twenty20 games against the Kiwis was named, he said of his availability: "We are still evaluating that at the present time.
"We'll see what happens over the coming days."
English bowling legend Broad had declared the Australian side as their "weakest squad since 2010", but Southee was in no uncertainty over the anticipated challenge during the series, which starts on November 21.
"In my view there's at any time a bad Aussie side," he remarked.
"Our focus is squarely on our own objectives. I think the caliber of [the English] team that's heading out to Australia is brilliant.
"It should be an absolute cracker, that series. Not just [are|do] English and Australian people looking forward to it, I believe the whole cricket world is."
But, before England head to Perth for the first Ashes match, they take on New Zealand in Christchurch on this Saturday.
England XI v the Kiwis:
Salt
Buttler
Bethell
Harry Brook (c)
Tom Banton
Curran
Jordan Cox
Brydon Carse
Liam Dawson
Adil Rashid
Wood
