England Bowling Consultant Southee Uncertain on Ashes Availability
Tim Southee's most recent Test match for New Zealand was versus England in December 2024.
England's fast-bowling advisor Southee is still working through what his involvement will be at the upcoming Ashes series in Australia.
The former New Zealand pace bowler is expected to be available for the first Test because of his participation in the ILT20 competition, which starts on 2 December in the United Arab Emirates.
The 36-year-old, aged 36, took up a position as the English team's pace bowling advisor in the summer after taking 391 wickets in 107 Test matches for the Kiwis.
Commenting as the English team for the opening of three Twenty20 games against New Zealand was announced, he said of his availability: "We're still working through that at the present time.
"We'll see what happens over the next little while."
England pace icon Stuart Broad had stated the Australia team as their "weakest squad since 2010", but Southee was in no uncertainty over what to expect during the series, which begins on 21 November.
"In my view there's ever a bad Aussie side," he said.
"The team's attention is firmly on what we're trying to do. I think the caliber of [the English] side that's going out to the host country is brilliant.
"It should be an absolute cracker, the Ashes. Not only [are|do] fans from both nations eagerly anticipate it, I believe the whole cricket world is."
However, prior to the English team head to the city of Perth for the opening Ashes Test, they face New Zealand in the city of Christchurch on Saturday.
England's Playing XI v the Kiwis:
Salt
Jos Buttler
Jacob Bethell
Brook (captain)
Banton
Sam Curran
Cox
Carse
Dawson
Adil Rashid
Wood
