England Bowling Consultant Tim Southee Uncertain on The Ashes Participation

England's bowling consultant Southee is still working through the extent of his role will be during the forthcoming Ashes series in Australia.

The ex- Kiwi seamer is expected to be present for the first Test because of his participation in the ILT20 tournament, which starts on 2 December in the UAE.

Southee, 36, took up a role as England's pace bowling advisor in the summer after claiming 391 wickets in 107 Tests for New Zealand.

Speaking as England's squad for the opening of three T20 matches against New Zealand was named, he said of his availability: "We're still working through the situation at the moment.

"We'll see what happens over the coming days."

English bowling legend Broad had declared the Australian team as their "worst team since 2010", but Southee was in little doubt over the anticipated challenge during the contest, which starts on 21 November.

"I don't think there's ever a poor Aussie side," he remarked.

"The team's attention is firmly on our own objectives. In my opinion the caliber of [the English] team that's heading out to the host country is brilliant.

"It should be an absolute cracker, the Ashes. Not just [are|do] English and Australian people looking forward to it, I believe the entire cricketing community is."

However, before England travel to the city of Perth for the first Ashes match, they take on the Kiwis in the city of Christchurch on this Saturday.

England XI v New Zealand:

• Salt

• Jos Buttler

• Bethell

• Brook (captain)

• Tom Banton

• Curran

• Jordan Cox

• Brydon Carse

• Dawson

• Rashid

• Luke Wood