🔗 Share this article

England bowling consultant Tim Southee is still working through what his involvement will be at the forthcoming Ashes contest in Australia.

The former New Zealand pace bowler is only likely to be present for the opening match because of his participation in the International League T20 competition, which starts on 2 December in the UAE.

The 36-year-old, aged 36, assumed a role as England's pace bowling advisor in the summer after taking 391 scalps in 107 Tests for the Kiwis.

Commenting as the English squad for the first of three T20 matches against New Zealand was announced, Southee stated of his participation: "We're still working through that at the present time.

"We'll see the outcome over the coming days."

English pace icon Broad had declared 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 November 21.

"In my view there's at any time a bad Aussie side," Southee remarked.

"The team's attention is squarely on what we're trying to do. I think the quality of [the English] side that's going out to Australia is brilliant.

"It ought to be an thrilling encounter, that series. Not just [are|do] fans from both nations looking forward to it, I believe the whole cricket world is."

However, prior to the English team travel to the city of Perth for the first Ashes match, they take on New Zealand in Christchurch on this Saturday.

England XI v New Zealand:

• Phil Salt

• Jos Buttler

• Bethell

• Harry Brook (c)

• Banton

• Sam Curran

• Jordan Cox

• Carse

• Liam Dawson

• Rashid

• Wood