England's Bowling Consultant Southee Uncertain on The Ashes Availability
The bowler's last Test match for New Zealand was against England in December 2024.
England's fast-bowling advisor Southee is still working through what his involvement will be during the forthcoming Ashes series in the host nation.
The ex- Kiwi seamer is expected to be available for the first Test due to his involvement in the ILT20 competition, which starts on December 2 in the UAE.
Southee, aged 36, took up a position as the English team's pace bowling advisor in the warmer months after claiming 391 wickets in 107 Test matches for the Kiwis.
Commenting as England's team for the opening of three Twenty20 games against New Zealand was announced, Southee stated of his participation: "We are still evaluating the situation at the present time.
"We will determine the outcome over the coming days."
England bowling legend Broad had declared the Australia side as their "weakest squad since 2010", but the consultant was in no uncertainty over what to expect during the series, which starts on 21 November.
"In my view there's ever a bad Australian cricket team," Southee said.
"The team's attention is squarely on our own objectives. In my opinion the caliber of [the English] team that's going out to Australia is excellent.
"It should be an thrilling encounter, that series. Not just [are|do] English and Australian people eagerly anticipate it, I think the whole cricket world is."
But, prior to 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's Playing XI v the Kiwis:
Phil Salt
Jos Buttler
Bethell
Harry Brook (c)
Tom Banton
Sam Curran
Jordan Cox
Carse
Dawson
Rashid
Luke Wood
