England Coach Southee Uncertain on The Ashes Participation
Tim Southee's most recent Test match for New Zealand was versus the English side in December 2024.
England's bowling consultant Tim Southee is currently evaluating the extent of his role will be during the forthcoming Ashes series in the host nation.
The former New Zealand pace bowler is only likely to be present for the first Test because of his involvement in the International League T20 competition, which starts on December 2 in the UAE.
The 36-year-old, 36, took up a position as the English team's pace bowling advisor in the summer after taking 391 scalps in 107 Test matches for New Zealand.
Commenting as England's squad for the opening of three T20 matches against the Kiwis was named, he said of his participation: "We are still evaluating the situation at the moment.
"We'll see what happens over the next little while."
English pace icon Stuart Broad had declared the Australian side as their "weakest squad since 2010", but the consultant was in little doubt over the anticipated challenge during the contest, which begins on 21 November.
"In my view there's at any time a poor Australian cricket team," Southee remarked.
"The team's attention is firmly on our own objectives. In my opinion the caliber of [England's] team that's going out to Australia is excellent.
"It should be an absolute cracker, that series. Not just [are|do] English and Australian people looking forward to it, I believe the whole cricket world is."
But, prior to England travel to the city of Perth for the first Ashes match, they take on the Kiwis in Christchurch on this Saturday.
England's Playing XI v the Kiwis:
Phil Salt
Jos Buttler
Jacob Bethell
Harry Brook (c)
Banton
Sam Curran
Cox
Carse
Liam Dawson
Adil Rashid
Luke Wood
