England's Coach Southee Uncertain on Ashes Availability
The bowler's most recent Test match for the Kiwis was versus the English side in the final month of 2024.
England's fast-bowling advisor Tim Southee is still working through what his involvement will be at the upcoming Ashes series in Australia.
The ex- Kiwi seamer is expected to be available for the first Test because of his participation in the International League T20 tournament, which begins on 2 December in the United Arab Emirates.
Southee, 36, assumed a role as the English team's fast bowling consultant in the summer after claiming 391 wickets in 107 Tests for the Kiwis.
Commenting as England's squad for the first of three Twenty20 games against the Kiwis was announced, Southee said of his availability: "We are still evaluating that at the present time.
"We will determine what happens over the coming days."
English pace icon Broad had declared the Australia side as their "weakest squad since 2010", but the consultant was in no uncertainty over the anticipated challenge during the series, which begins on November 21.
"In my view there's at any time a bad Aussie side," Southee remarked.
"The team's attention is squarely on our own objectives. In my opinion the caliber of [England's] side that's going out to the host country is excellent.
"It should be an thrilling encounter, that series. Not just [are|do] English and Australian people looking forward to it, I believe the entire cricketing community is."
But, before England travel to the city of Perth for the opening Ashes Test, they face New Zealand in Christchurch on this Saturday.
England's Playing XI v New Zealand:
Salt
Buttler
Jacob Bethell
Brook (captain)
Banton
Sam Curran
Cox
Carse
Dawson
Rashid
Luke Wood
