England Coach Tim Southee Unsure on Ashes Availability
The bowler's last Test match for the Kiwis was versus England in the final month of 2024.
England's fast-bowling advisor Tim Southee is currently evaluating what his involvement will be during the upcoming Ashes series in the host nation.
The former Kiwi pace bowler is expected to be present for the first Test because of his involvement in the International League T20 tournament, which starts on December 2 in the United Arab Emirates.
Southee, aged 36, assumed a role as England's fast bowling consultant in the summer after claiming 391 scalps in 107 Tests for the Kiwis.
Speaking as the English team for the first of three T20 matches against the Kiwis was announced, Southee said of his participation: "We're still working through the situation at the present time.
"We will determine the outcome over the next little while."
English pace icon Stuart Broad had declared the Australia team as their "worst team since 2010", but the consultant was in no uncertainty over what to expect during the series, which starts on November 21.
"I don't think there's at any time a poor Australian cricket team," he said.
"The team's attention is firmly on what we're trying to do. I think the quality of [England's] team that's heading out to Australia is brilliant.
"It should be an thrilling encounter, the Ashes. Not just [are|do] English and Australian people eagerly anticipate it, I believe the entire cricketing community is."
However, prior to the English team head to the city of Perth for the first Ashes match, they face New Zealand in Christchurch on Saturday.
England's Playing XI v New Zealand:
Phil Salt
Buttler
Bethell
Brook (captain)
Banton
Sam Curran
Cox
Brydon Carse
Liam Dawson
Adil Rashid
Luke Wood
