England Bowling Consultant Southee Unsure on The Ashes Availability
The bowler's last Test match for New Zealand was against England in December 2024.
England bowling consultant Tim Southee is still working through what his involvement will be during the upcoming Ashes contest in Australia.
The former Kiwi pace bowler is expected to be available for the opening match because of his participation in the International League T20 competition, which begins on 2 December in the United Arab Emirates.
Southee, 36, assumed a position as the English team's fast bowling consultant in the warmer months after taking 391 wickets in 107 Test matches for New Zealand.
Speaking as the English team for the opening of three Twenty20 games against New Zealand was announced, he stated of his availability: "We're still working through that at the moment.
"We'll see what happens over the coming days."
English bowling legend Broad had declared the Australian team as their "worst team since 2010", but Southee was in no uncertainty over the anticipated challenge during the series, which begins on November 21.
"In my view there's at any time a poor Australian cricket team," he said.
"Our focus is firmly on our own objectives. In my opinion the quality of [the English] team that's going out to Australia is excellent.
"It ought to be an thrilling encounter, the Ashes. Not just [are|do] fans from both nations looking forward to it, I believe the whole cricket world is."
However, prior to the English team travel to the city of Perth for the opening Ashes Test, they face New Zealand in Christchurch on Saturday.
England's Playing XI v New Zealand:
Phil Salt
Jos Buttler
Bethell
Brook (captain)
Banton
Curran
Cox
Carse
Liam Dawson
Rashid
Wood
