England's Bowling Consultant Southee Uncertain on The Ashes Participation
The bowler's last Test match for New Zealand was against the English side in December 2024.
England bowling consultant Tim Southee is still working through what his involvement will be at the forthcoming Ashes series in the host nation.
The former New Zealand pace bowler is only likely to be available for the first Test due to his participation in the International League T20 tournament, which begins on December 2 in the UAE.
Southee, 36, assumed a role as the English team's fast bowling consultant in the warmer months after taking 391 wickets in 107 Tests for New Zealand.
Commenting as the English squad for the first of three T20 matches against New Zealand was announced, Southee stated of his availability: "We're still working through the situation at the present time.
"We will determine what happens over the coming days."
English pace icon Broad had declared the Australia team as their "weakest squad since 2010", but Southee was in little doubt over the anticipated challenge during the series, which starts on November 21.
"In my view there's ever a bad Aussie side," Southee remarked.
"The team's attention is firmly on our own objectives. In my opinion the quality of [the English] team that's heading out to Australia is brilliant.
"It ought to be an absolute cracker, that series. Not only [are|do] English and Australian people eagerly anticipate it, I believe the whole cricket world is."
However, prior to the English team travel to the city of Perth for the first Ashes match, they take on the Kiwis in Christchurch on Saturday.
England XI v New Zealand:
Salt
Buttler
Jacob Bethell
Brook (captain)
Tom Banton
Sam Curran
Jordan Cox
Carse
Dawson
Adil Rashid
Luke Wood
