England's Bowling Consultant Southee Uncertain on The Ashes Availability
The bowler's last Test for the Kiwis was against the English side in the final month of 2024.
England bowling consultant Tim Southee is still working through what his involvement will be at the upcoming Ashes contest in the host nation.
The former Kiwi pace bowler is only likely to be present for the opening match because of his involvement in the ILT20 tournament, which starts on December 2 in the UAE.
Southee, aged 36, assumed a role as England's fast bowling consultant in the warmer months after taking 391 scalps in 107 Tests for New Zealand.
Speaking as the English squad for the first of three Twenty20 games against New Zealand was announced, Southee said of his participation: "We're still working through the situation at the present time.
"We will determine the outcome over the next little while."
England bowling legend Stuart Broad had stated the Australian side as their "weakest squad since 2010", but Southee was in little doubt over what to expect during the series, which begins on November 21.
"In my view there's ever a poor Australian cricket team," Southee said.
"The team's attention is firmly on our own objectives. In my opinion the quality of [England's] team that's heading out to Australia is excellent.
"It ought to be an absolute cracker, that series. Not only [are|do] English and Australian people looking forward to it, I think the entire cricketing community is."
However, prior to the English team travel to Perth for the opening Ashes Test, they face the Kiwis in Christchurch on this Saturday.
England XI v the Kiwis:
Salt
Buttler
Jacob Bethell
Brook (captain)
Banton
Sam Curran
Jordan Cox
Carse
Liam Dawson
Adil Rashid
Luke Wood
