England Coach Southee Uncertain on Ashes Participation
The bowler's last Test for the Kiwis was against the English side in December 2024.
England's bowling consultant Tim Southee is currently evaluating what his involvement will be during the upcoming Ashes contest in the host nation.
The ex- New Zealand pace bowler is expected to be available for the first Test because of his involvement in the ILT20 tournament, which begins on 2 December in the UAE.
Southee, 36, assumed a role as the English team's pace bowling advisor in the summer after claiming 391 wickets in 107 Test matches for the Kiwis.
Speaking as England's team for the opening of three Twenty20 games against New Zealand was announced, he said of his participation: "We are still evaluating that at the moment.
"We'll see the outcome over the next little while."
English pace icon Broad had stated the Australian side as their "weakest squad since 2010", but Southee was in no uncertainty over the anticipated challenge during the contest, which begins on November 21.
"I don't think there's ever a bad Aussie side," he remarked.
"The team's attention is squarely on what we're trying to do. In my opinion the quality of [the English] side that's going out to Australia is excellent.
"It should be an absolute cracker, that series. Not just [are|do] English and Australian people looking forward to it, I think the whole cricket world is."
But, prior to England travel to the city of Perth for the opening Ashes Test, they face the Kiwis in the city of Christchurch on Saturday.
England's Playing XI v New Zealand:
Salt
Jos Buttler
Jacob Bethell
Brook (captain)
Banton
Curran
Jordan Cox
Brydon Carse
Liam Dawson
Rashid
Wood
