England Coach Tim Southee Uncertain on Ashes Availability
Tim Southee's last Test match for New Zealand was versus the English side in the final month of 2024.
England's bowling consultant Tim Southee is currently evaluating what his involvement will be during the forthcoming Ashes series in Australia.
The former New Zealand seamer is expected to be available for the opening match due to his involvement in the ILT20 competition, which starts on December 2 in the United Arab Emirates.
The 36-year-old, aged 36, assumed a role as the English team's pace bowling advisor in the warmer months after taking 391 scalps in 107 Tests for the Kiwis.
Commenting as England's squad for the opening of three Twenty20 games against the Kiwis was named, Southee said of his participation: "We're still working through the situation at the present time.
"We'll see what happens over the next little while."
England pace icon Broad had stated the Australian team as their "weakest squad since 2010", but Southee was in no uncertainty over the anticipated challenge during the series, which starts on 21 November.
"I don't think there's at any time a bad Australian cricket team," he remarked.
"The team's attention is squarely on what we're trying to do. In my opinion the caliber of [the English] side that's heading out to the host country is brilliant.
"It should be an absolute cracker, that series. Not just [are|do] fans from both nations eagerly anticipate it, I think the entire cricketing community is."
But, before the English team travel to the city of Perth for the opening Ashes Test, they face New Zealand in the city of Christchurch on this Saturday.
England XI v the Kiwis:
Phil Salt
Jos Buttler
Bethell
Harry Brook (c)
Banton
Curran
Cox
Carse
Dawson
Rashid
Luke Wood
