England's Bowling Consultant Southee Unsure on Ashes Participation
The bowler's last Test match for the Kiwis was against England in December 2024.
England's fast-bowling advisor Southee is still working through what his involvement will be at the forthcoming Ashes contest in the host nation.
The ex- New Zealand pace bowler is only likely to be present for the opening match because of his participation in the International League T20 tournament, which starts on 2 December in the United Arab Emirates.
The 36-year-old, aged 36, assumed a position as the English team's pace bowling advisor in the summer after claiming 391 wickets in 107 Test matches for the Kiwis.
Commenting as the English team 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 present time.
"We will determine the outcome over the next little while."
English pace icon Stuart Broad had declared the Australia side as their "weakest squad since 2010", but the consultant was in little doubt over what to expect during the series, which begins on 21 November.
"In my view there's ever a bad Aussie side," he said.
"Our focus is firmly on what we're trying to do. I think the quality of [the English] side that's going out to the host country is excellent.
"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 the English team travel to Perth for the opening Ashes Test, they face the Kiwis in the city of Christchurch on this Saturday.
England's Playing XI v New Zealand:
Phil Salt
Buttler
Bethell
Harry Brook (c)
Banton
Curran
Jordan Cox
Carse
Liam Dawson
Adil Rashid
Wood
