England Bowling Consultant Tim Southee Uncertain on Ashes Availability
Tim Southee's most recent Test match for the Kiwis was versus the English side in the final month of 2024.
England's bowling consultant Tim Southee is currently evaluating the extent of his role will be at the upcoming Ashes contest in Australia.
The former New Zealand pace bowler is only likely to be present for the first Test due to his participation in the International League T20 competition, which starts on December 2 in the United Arab Emirates.
The 36-year-old, 36, took up a position as England's fast bowling consultant in the warmer months after claiming 391 wickets in 107 Test matches for New Zealand.
Speaking as England's squad for the first of three T20 matches against the Kiwis was announced, Southee said of his availability: "We are still evaluating that at the moment.
"We will determine what happens over the next little while."
English pace icon Stuart Broad had stated the Australian side as their "weakest squad since 2010", but Southee was in little doubt over the anticipated challenge during the contest, which starts on 21 November.
"In my view there's ever a bad Australian cricket team," Southee remarked.
"The team's attention is squarely on what we're trying to do. I think the quality of [the English] side that's heading out to Australia is excellent.
"It should be an absolute cracker, the Ashes. Not just [are|do] English and Australian people looking forward to it, I think the whole cricket world is."
However, prior to England travel to Perth for the opening Ashes Test, they face the Kiwis in the city of Christchurch on this Saturday.
England XI v New Zealand:
Phil Salt
Buttler
Jacob Bethell
Harry Brook (c)
Banton
Curran
Cox
Carse
Liam Dawson
Rashid
Wood
