England Bowling Consultant Tim Southee Uncertain on The Ashes Participation
Tim Southee's most recent Test match for the Kiwis was against the English side in the final month of 2024.
England's bowling consultant Southee is still working through what his involvement will be at the upcoming Ashes contest in Australia.
The ex- New Zealand seamer is expected to be available for the opening match due to his participation in the International League T20 competition, which begins on 2 December in the United Arab Emirates.
The 36-year-old, aged 36, assumed a role as the English team's fast bowling consultant in the warmer months after claiming 391 wickets in 107 Tests for New Zealand.
Speaking as the English squad for the first of three Twenty20 games against New Zealand was announced, he said of his participation: "We are still evaluating that at the present time.
"We will determine the outcome over the coming days."
English pace icon Stuart Broad had declared the Australia side as their "weakest squad since 2010", but the consultant was in no uncertainty over what to expect during the contest, which begins on November 21.
"In my view there's at any time a bad Australian cricket team," he remarked.
"The team's attention is firmly on our own objectives. I think the quality of [England's] team that's heading out to Australia is excellent.
"It should be an thrilling encounter, the Ashes. Not only [are|do] fans from both nations eagerly anticipate it, I believe the whole cricket world is."
But, before the English team head to Perth for the first Ashes match, they face the Kiwis in Christchurch on this Saturday.
England XI v the Kiwis:
Phil Salt
Jos Buttler
Bethell
Brook (captain)
Tom Banton
Curran
Jordan Cox
Carse
Liam Dawson
Adil Rashid
Luke Wood
