England Bowling Consultant Southee Uncertain on Ashes Availability
The bowler's last Test for the Kiwis was against England in the final month of 2024.
England bowling consultant Tim Southee is currently evaluating the extent of his role will be at the forthcoming Ashes contest in Australia.
The former Kiwi pace bowler is only likely to be available for the opening match due to his participation in the ILT20 tournament, which starts on December 2 in the UAE.
Southee, aged 36, took up a role as the English team's fast bowling consultant in the warmer months after claiming 391 scalps in 107 Test matches for the Kiwis.
Speaking as England's team for the opening of three Twenty20 games against New Zealand was named, he stated of his participation: "We are still evaluating the situation at the present time.
"We'll see what happens over the coming days."
English bowling legend Stuart Broad had declared the Australia team as their "weakest squad since 2010", but the consultant 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 Australian cricket team," Southee remarked.
"The team's attention is firmly on what we're trying to do. In my opinion the caliber of [England's] team that's going out to Australia is brilliant.
"It ought to be an absolute cracker, the Ashes. Not only [are|do] English and Australian people eagerly anticipate it, I believe the entire cricketing community is."
But, before the English team head to the city of Perth for the opening Ashes Test, they take on New Zealand in Christchurch on this Saturday.
England's Playing XI v the Kiwis:
Salt
Buttler
Bethell
Brook (captain)
Banton
Curran
Cox
Brydon Carse
Dawson
Rashid
Luke Wood
