England's Bowling Consultant Southee Uncertain on Ashes Participation
The bowler's last Test for the Kiwis was versus England in December 2024.
England's bowling consultant Tim Southee is still working through the extent of his role will be during the forthcoming Ashes series in Australia.
The ex- Kiwi seamer is expected to be present for the first Test due to his participation in the ILT20 competition, which starts on December 2 in the UAE.
Southee, aged 36, assumed a position as the English team's pace bowling advisor in the summer after claiming 391 wickets in 107 Test matches for the Kiwis.
Speaking as the English team for the opening of three T20 matches against New Zealand was named, he said of his participation: "We are still evaluating that at the moment.
"We will determine the outcome over the next little while."
England pace icon Stuart Broad had stated the Australian team as their "worst team since 2010", but Southee was in little doubt over what to expect during the series, which begins on 21 November.
"I don't think there's at any time a poor Australian cricket team," Southee remarked.
"The team's attention is firmly on our own objectives. I think the quality of [England's] side that's heading out to the host country is brilliant.
"It should be an absolute cracker, the Ashes. Not just [are|do] English and Australian people looking forward to it, I believe the entire cricketing community is."
But, before the English team head to Perth for the first Ashes match, they face the Kiwis in Christchurch on Saturday.
England's Playing XI v the Kiwis:
Salt
Jos Buttler
Bethell
Brook (captain)
Tom Banton
Curran
Cox
Carse
Liam Dawson
Adil Rashid
Luke Wood
