England's Bowling Consultant Southee Unsure on Ashes Participation
Tim Southee's most recent Test match for New Zealand was against the English side in the final month of 2024.
England bowling consultant Tim Southee is currently evaluating what his involvement will be at the upcoming Ashes contest in the host nation.
The former Kiwi seamer is expected to be present for the first Test because of his involvement in the International League T20 competition, which begins on 2 December in the UAE.
Southee, aged 36, assumed a position as the English team's pace bowling advisor in the summer after claiming 391 scalps in 107 Tests for the Kiwis.
Commenting as the English squad for the first of three T20 matches against the Kiwis was announced, he said of his participation: "We are still evaluating the situation at the present time.
"We'll see the outcome over the next little while."
England pace icon Stuart Broad had stated the Australia team as their "worst team since 2010", but the consultant was in little doubt over the anticipated challenge during the series, which begins on 21 November.
"I don't think there's at any time a bad Australian cricket team," Southee said.
"The team's attention is firmly on what we're trying to do. I think the caliber of [the English] team that's going out to Australia is excellent.
"It should be an absolute cracker, that series. Not just [are|do] fans from both nations looking forward to it, I believe the whole cricket world is."
But, prior to England head to the city of Perth for the opening Ashes Test, they face the Kiwis in the city of Christchurch on Saturday.
England XI v New Zealand:
Salt
Jos Buttler
Jacob Bethell
Brook (captain)
Tom Banton
Sam Curran
Jordan Cox
Brydon Carse
Liam Dawson
Adil Rashid
Wood
