England's Bowling Consultant Tim Southee Unsure on Ashes Availability
Tim Southee's most recent Test for the Kiwis was versus the English side in the final month of 2024.
England fast-bowling advisor Tim Southee is currently evaluating the extent of his role will be during the upcoming Ashes series in the host nation.
The former New Zealand pace bowler is expected to be present for the opening match because of his participation in the ILT20 tournament, which starts on 2 December in the United Arab Emirates.
Southee, aged 36, took up a position as England's pace bowling advisor in the warmer months after taking 391 wickets in 107 Test matches for the Kiwis.
Speaking as England's squad for the opening of three T20 matches against New Zealand was announced, he said of his participation: "We are still evaluating the situation at the moment.
"We will determine what happens over the next little while."
English pace icon Stuart Broad had stated the Australia side as their "weakest squad since 2010", but the consultant was in little doubt over what to expect during the contest, which begins on 21 November.
"I don't think there's at any time a bad Australian cricket team," Southee remarked.
"The team's attention is squarely on our own objectives. In my opinion the quality of [the English] 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 eagerly anticipate it, I believe the entire cricketing community is."
However, before England travel to Perth for the first Ashes match, they take on New Zealand in the city of Christchurch on Saturday.
England XI v the Kiwis:
Salt
Buttler
Bethell
Brook (captain)
Banton
Curran
Cox
Carse
Liam Dawson
Adil Rashid
Wood
