England Bowling Consultant Tim Southee Uncertain on Ashes Participation
The bowler's last Test for New Zealand was against the English side in the final month of 2024.
England bowling consultant Southee is still working through what his involvement will be during the upcoming Ashes contest in the host nation.
The ex- New Zealand seamer is only likely to be available for the first Test because of his participation in the ILT20 tournament, which starts on 2 December in the UAE.
The 36-year-old, aged 36, assumed a position as the English team's fast bowling consultant in the summer after taking 391 scalps in 107 Tests for the Kiwis.
Commenting as England's squad for the first of three T20 matches against New Zealand was named, he stated of his participation: "We're still working through the situation at the moment.
"We will determine the outcome over the coming days."
English bowling legend Broad had stated the Australia team as their "weakest squad since 2010", but the consultant was in little doubt over what to expect during the contest, which starts on November 21.
"I don't think there's ever a bad Australian cricket team," he said.
"The team's attention is squarely on what we're trying to do. In my opinion the caliber of [the English] team that's going out to the host country is brilliant.
"It ought to be an absolute cracker, that series. Not just [are|do] English and Australian people looking forward to it, I think the entire cricketing community is."
But, before England head to the city of Perth for the opening Ashes Test, they face New Zealand in Christchurch on Saturday.
England's Playing XI v the Kiwis:
Phil Salt
Jos Buttler
Jacob Bethell
Harry Brook (c)
Tom Banton
Sam Curran
Jordan Cox
Carse
Liam Dawson
Rashid
Luke Wood
