England's Bowling Consultant Tim Southee Unsure on Ashes Availability
Tim Southee's last Test match for New Zealand was versus the English side in December 2024.
England's fast-bowling advisor Tim Southee is currently evaluating what his involvement will be at the forthcoming Ashes contest in the host nation.
The ex- Kiwi seamer is only likely to be available for the first Test due to his involvement in the International League T20 tournament, which starts on 2 December in the UAE.
Southee, aged 36, assumed a role as England's pace bowling advisor in the summer after taking 391 scalps in 107 Test matches for New Zealand.
Commenting as the English squad for the opening of three T20 matches against New Zealand was named, Southee stated of his participation: "We're still working through the situation at the moment.
"We will determine what happens over the next little while."
English pace icon Broad had stated the Australian side as their "worst team since 2010", but Southee was in no uncertainty over what to expect during the contest, which starts on November 21.
"In my view there's at any time a poor Aussie side," Southee said.
"Our focus is firmly on what we're trying to do. In my opinion the quality of [England's] side that's heading out to Australia is brilliant.
"It ought to be an absolute cracker, the Ashes. Not just [are|do] English and Australian people looking forward to it, I believe the whole cricket world is."
But, prior to the English team head to the city of Perth for the opening Ashes Test, they take on the Kiwis in the city of Christchurch on this Saturday.
England's Playing XI v the Kiwis:
Phil Salt
Jos Buttler
Bethell
Harry Brook (c)
Tom Banton
Curran
Cox
Brydon Carse
Dawson
Adil Rashid
Wood
