England's Bowling Consultant Tim Southee Unsure on The Ashes Availability
Tim Southee's most recent Test match for the Kiwis was versus the English side in December 2024.
England's bowling consultant Southee is still working through the extent of his role will be during the upcoming Ashes contest in Australia.
The former New Zealand seamer is expected to be available for the first Test due to his involvement in the ILT20 competition, which begins on December 2 in the UAE.
Southee, 36, assumed a position as the English team's fast bowling consultant in the summer after claiming 391 scalps in 107 Tests for the Kiwis.
Speaking as the English team for the opening of three Twenty20 games against New Zealand was announced, he said of his participation: "We're still working through that at the moment.
"We'll see the outcome over the coming days."
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 21 November.
"In my view there's at any time a bad Aussie side," he remarked.
"Our focus is firmly on what we're trying to do. In my opinion the caliber of [the English] team that's going out to the host country is brilliant.
"It ought to be an absolute cracker, that series. Not only [are|do] fans from both nations eagerly anticipate it, I think the whole cricket world is."
However, before the English team head to the city of Perth for the opening Ashes Test, they face New Zealand in Christchurch on this Saturday.
England's Playing XI v New Zealand:
Salt
Buttler
Jacob Bethell
Harry Brook (c)
Banton
Curran
Jordan Cox
Carse
Dawson
Rashid
Luke Wood
