England Coach Southee Uncertain on The Ashes Availability
Tim Southee's last Test for the Kiwis was against the English side in the final month of 2024.
England fast-bowling advisor Tim Southee is still working through what his involvement will be during the forthcoming Ashes contest in Australia.
The former New Zealand seamer is expected to be available for the opening match due to his involvement in the ILT20 tournament, which begins on 2 December in the UAE.
Southee, 36, assumed a position as the English team's pace bowling advisor in the summer after taking 391 scalps in 107 Test matches for New Zealand.
Speaking as England's team for the opening of three Twenty20 games against the Kiwis was named, Southee said of his availability: "We're still working through the situation at the present time.
"We'll see the outcome over the next little while."
England pace icon Broad had stated the Australia side as their "weakest squad since 2010", but the consultant was in no uncertainty over the anticipated challenge during the series, which starts on November 21.
"I don't think there's at any time a bad Aussie side," he remarked.
"The team's attention is squarely on our own objectives. In my opinion the quality of [England's] team that's going out to the host country is brilliant.
"It ought to be an absolute cracker, the Ashes. Not only [are|do] English and Australian people looking forward to it, I think the whole cricket world is."
However, prior to the English team travel to the city of Perth for the first Ashes match, they face the Kiwis in the city of Christchurch on this Saturday.
England's Playing XI v New Zealand:
Phil Salt
Jos Buttler
Jacob Bethell
Brook (captain)
Banton
Sam Curran
Cox
Carse
Dawson
Rashid
Wood
