England Coach Southee Uncertain on Ashes Availability
Tim Southee's last Test for the Kiwis was versus the English side in December 2024.
England bowling consultant Southee is currently evaluating what his involvement will be at the forthcoming Ashes series in Australia.
The ex- New Zealand seamer is only likely to be present for the first Test due to his participation in the International League T20 competition, which begins on 2 December in the UAE.
Southee, 36, took up a position as the English team's fast bowling consultant in the summer after taking 391 wickets in 107 Tests for New Zealand.
Commenting as the English squad for the first of three Twenty20 games against the Kiwis was named, he said of his availability: "We are still evaluating that at the moment.
"We'll see what happens over the next little while."
England bowling legend Broad had stated the Australia team as their "weakest squad since 2010", but the consultant was in no uncertainty over the anticipated challenge during the series, which begins on November 21.
"In my view there's at any time a bad Aussie side," he remarked.
"Our focus is firmly on our own objectives. In my opinion the quality of [the English] team that's heading out to the host country is brilliant.
"It should be an absolute cracker, that series. Not just [are|do] fans from both nations looking forward to it, I think the entire cricketing community is."
But, before England travel to Perth for the first Ashes match, they face the Kiwis in the city of Christchurch on Saturday.
England's Playing XI v New Zealand:
Salt
Buttler
Jacob Bethell
Brook (captain)
Banton
Sam Curran
Jordan Cox
Carse
Liam Dawson
Adil Rashid
Wood
