England Bowling Consultant Southee Uncertain on The Ashes Participation
Tim Southee's last Test match for the Kiwis was against the English side in the final month of 2024.
England's bowling consultant Tim Southee is still working through the extent of his role will be at the upcoming Ashes series in the host nation.
The ex- Kiwi pace bowler is expected to be available for the opening match due to his involvement in the ILT20 competition, which starts on December 2 in the UAE.
Southee, 36, assumed a position as the English team's pace bowling advisor in the summer after taking 391 wickets in 107 Test matches for the Kiwis.
Commenting as England's team for the opening of three T20 matches against the Kiwis was announced, he said of his participation: "We're still working through 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 no uncertainty over what to expect during the contest, which starts on November 21.
"In my view there's at any time a poor Australian cricket team," he remarked.
"The team's attention is firmly on what we're trying to do. In my opinion the quality of [the English] side that's heading out to Australia is brilliant.
"It ought to be an absolute cracker, that series. Not only [are|do] English and Australian people looking forward to it, I believe the whole cricket world is."
But, before England travel to Perth for the opening Ashes Test, they face the Kiwis in the city of Christchurch on this Saturday.
England's Playing XI v the Kiwis:
Salt
Jos Buttler
Bethell
Brook (captain)
Banton
Sam Curran
Cox
Brydon Carse
Liam Dawson
Rashid
Wood
