England Coach Tim Southee Unsure on Ashes Participation
Tim Southee's last Test match for New Zealand was against the English side in the final month of 2024.
England's fast-bowling advisor Southee is currently evaluating what his involvement will be during the upcoming Ashes series in Australia.
The former New Zealand pace bowler is expected to be present for the first Test due to his involvement in the International League T20 tournament, which starts on 2 December in the UAE.
Southee, 36, assumed a role as England's pace bowling advisor in the summer after claiming 391 scalps in 107 Test matches for the Kiwis.
Commenting as England's team for the first of three T20 matches against the Kiwis was announced, Southee said of his availability: "We're still working through that at the moment.
"We will determine what happens over the next little while."
England bowling legend Stuart Broad had stated the Australian team as their "weakest squad since 2010", but the consultant was in little doubt over the anticipated challenge during the series, which begins on November 21.
"I don't think there's ever a bad Aussie side," he said.
"Our focus is firmly on what we're trying to do. I think the caliber of [the English] side that's heading out to the host country is brilliant.
"It should be an absolute cracker, the Ashes. Not just [are|do] English and Australian people looking forward to it, I think the entire cricketing community is."
But, before England head to Perth for the opening Ashes Test, they take on the Kiwis in the city of Christchurch on Saturday.
England XI v the Kiwis:
Salt
Jos Buttler
Bethell
Brook (captain)
Banton
Curran
Jordan Cox
Brydon Carse
Liam Dawson
Rashid
Luke Wood
