England's Coach Southee Uncertain on Ashes Participation
Tim Southee's last Test match for New Zealand was against England in December 2024.
England fast-bowling advisor Tim Southee is currently evaluating 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 because of his involvement in the International League T20 competition, which begins on December 2 in the UAE.
The 36-year-old, 36, took up a role as the English team's pace bowling advisor in the summer after claiming 391 scalps in 107 Test matches for New Zealand.
Speaking as England's team for the first of three T20 matches against New Zealand was named, Southee said of his availability: "We are still evaluating the situation at the moment.
"We'll see what happens over the coming days."
English bowling legend Broad had declared the Australian team as their "weakest squad since 2010", but Southee was in little doubt over what to expect during the series, which starts on 21 November.
"I don't think there's at any time a poor Australian cricket team," Southee remarked.
"The team's attention is firmly on our own objectives. I think the caliber of [the English] side that's going out to the host country is excellent.
"It should be an absolute cracker, that series. Not just [are|do] English and Australian people looking forward to it, I believe the whole cricket world is."
However, before the English team travel to the city of Perth for the first Ashes match, they face New Zealand in the city of Christchurch on this Saturday.
England XI v New Zealand:
Phil Salt
Jos Buttler
Jacob Bethell
Brook (captain)
Tom Banton
Curran
Jordan Cox
Brydon Carse
Dawson
Rashid
Luke Wood
