England Bowling Consultant Southee Uncertain on Ashes Participation
The bowler's most recent Test for the Kiwis was versus England in December 2024.
England bowling consultant Tim Southee is still working through what his involvement will be during the forthcoming Ashes contest in Australia.
The ex- Kiwi seamer is expected to be available for the opening match due to his participation in the International League T20 competition, which starts on December 2 in the UAE.
Southee, aged 36, took up a role as the English team's pace bowling advisor in the summer after taking 391 scalps in 107 Tests for New Zealand.
Commenting as the English squad for the first of three Twenty20 games against New Zealand was announced, he stated of his participation: "We are still evaluating the situation at the present time.
"We will determine what happens over the next little while."
England bowling legend Stuart Broad had stated the Australia side as their "worst team since 2010", but Southee was in little doubt over what to expect during the series, which starts on 21 November.
"I don't think there's ever a poor Australian cricket team," he said.
"The team's attention is squarely on what we're trying to do. I think the quality of [England's] side that's heading out to the host country is brilliant.
"It ought to be an absolute cracker, the Ashes. Not just [are|do] fans from both nations eagerly anticipate 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 the Kiwis in the city of Christchurch on this Saturday.
England XI v New Zealand:
Salt
Buttler
Bethell
Brook (captain)
Banton
Curran
Jordan Cox
Brydon Carse
Dawson
Rashid
Luke Wood
