England's Coach Tim Southee Unsure on The Ashes Availability
Tim Southee's last Test match for the Kiwis was versus the English side in the final month of 2024.
England's bowling consultant Tim Southee is currently evaluating the extent of his role will be at the upcoming Ashes series in Australia.
The former New Zealand pace bowler is expected to be available for the opening match because of his participation in the International League T20 tournament, which starts on 2 December in the UAE.
Southee, 36, took up a role as the English team's fast bowling consultant in the warmer months after taking 391 wickets in 107 Tests for New Zealand.
Speaking as England's squad for the first of three Twenty20 games against the Kiwis was announced, Southee stated of his participation: "We're still working through the situation at the moment.
"We'll see what happens over the coming days."
English pace icon Broad had stated the Australia side as their "weakest squad since 2010", but Southee was in little doubt over the anticipated challenge during the series, which begins on 21 November.
"I don't think there's at any time a bad Australian cricket team," he remarked.
"Our focus is firmly on our own objectives. In my opinion the quality of [England's] team that's going out to Australia is brilliant.
"It ought to be an absolute cracker, the Ashes. Not just [are|do] English and Australian people eagerly anticipate it, I think the entire cricketing community is."
But, prior to England travel to Perth for the first Ashes match, they face the Kiwis in Christchurch on this Saturday.
England's Playing XI v the Kiwis:
Salt
Buttler
Jacob Bethell
Harry Brook (c)
Tom Banton
Sam Curran
Cox
Carse
Liam Dawson
Adil Rashid
Wood
