England Coach Tim Southee Uncertain on Ashes Participation
The bowler's last Test for the Kiwis was against the English side in December 2024.
England fast-bowling advisor Tim Southee is still working through what his involvement will be during the forthcoming Ashes series in Australia.
The ex- Kiwi pace bowler is only likely to be available for the first Test due to his participation in the International League T20 tournament, which begins on 2 December in the UAE.
The 36-year-old, aged 36, assumed a position as England's fast bowling consultant in the warmer months after claiming 391 wickets in 107 Test matches for the Kiwis.
Speaking as the English squad for the opening of three Twenty20 games against New Zealand was announced, Southee stated of his participation: "We are still evaluating that at the moment.
"We will determine what happens over the next little while."
England pace icon Stuart Broad had declared the Australia team as their "weakest squad since 2010", but the consultant was in no uncertainty over what to expect during the series, which begins on November 21.
"In my view there's at any time a poor Australian cricket team," he remarked.
"The team's attention is squarely on what we're trying to do. In my opinion the caliber of [England's] side that's going out to the host country is excellent.
"It should be an absolute cracker, that series. Not just [are|do] fans from both nations looking forward to it, I believe the whole cricket world is."
But, prior to England travel to the city of Perth for the opening Ashes Test, they take on the Kiwis in Christchurch on Saturday.
England XI v New Zealand:
Phil Salt
Jos Buttler
Jacob Bethell
Brook (captain)
Tom Banton
Sam Curran
Jordan Cox
Brydon Carse
Dawson
Rashid
Wood
