England's Bowling Consultant Southee Uncertain on Ashes Participation
The bowler's last Test match for the Kiwis was against the English side in December 2024.
England's bowling consultant Tim Southee is still working through the extent of his role will be at the forthcoming Ashes contest in Australia.
The former Kiwi seamer is only likely to be available for the opening match because of his participation in the International League T20 tournament, which begins on December 2 in the United Arab Emirates.
Southee, aged 36, took up a role as England's fast bowling consultant in the warmer months after claiming 391 wickets in 107 Tests for New Zealand.
Commenting as the English squad for the opening of three T20 matches against the Kiwis was announced, Southee stated of his availability: "We're still working through the situation at the moment.
"We will determine what happens over the coming days."
England pace icon Broad had stated the Australia side as their "weakest squad since 2010", but the consultant was in no uncertainty over the anticipated challenge during the series, which begins on November 21.
"In my view there's ever a poor Australian cricket team," he said.
"The team's attention is squarely on our own objectives. In my opinion the quality of [the English] side that's going out to the host country is brilliant.
"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, before England travel to Perth for the first Ashes match, they face New Zealand in the city of Christchurch on this Saturday.
England's Playing XI v New Zealand:
Salt
Jos Buttler
Bethell
Brook (captain)
Tom Banton
Sam Curran
Jordan Cox
Brydon Carse
Liam Dawson
Rashid
Luke Wood
