England Bowling Consultant Tim Southee Unsure on The Ashes Availability
Tim Southee's most recent Test for the Kiwis was versus England in December 2024.
England's bowling consultant Tim Southee is currently evaluating what his involvement will be during the upcoming Ashes contest in the host nation.
The former New Zealand seamer is only likely to be available for the first Test due to his involvement in the International League T20 tournament, which starts on 2 December in the United Arab Emirates.
Southee, aged 36, took up a position as England's pace bowling advisor in the warmer months after claiming 391 scalps in 107 Test matches for the Kiwis.
Commenting as England's team for the first of three Twenty20 games against the Kiwis was named, Southee said of his participation: "We are still evaluating the situation at the present time.
"We'll see the outcome over the coming days."
England pace icon Stuart Broad had declared the Australia team as their "worst team since 2010", but the consultant was in no uncertainty over the anticipated challenge during the series, which starts on November 21.
"In my view there's ever a poor Aussie side," Southee remarked.
"The team's attention is squarely on what we're trying to do. I think 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 looking forward to it, I think the entire cricketing community is."
But, prior to England head to the city of Perth for the opening Ashes Test, they take on New Zealand in Christchurch on this Saturday.
England XI v New Zealand:
Salt
Jos Buttler
Bethell
Harry Brook (c)
Banton
Sam Curran
Cox
Carse
Liam Dawson
Rashid
Luke Wood
