England's Bowling Consultant Tim Southee Unsure on The Ashes Participation

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

The ex- Kiwi pace bowler is expected to be available for the opening match because of his involvement in the International League T20 competition, which begins on December 2 in the United Arab Emirates.

Southee, 36, assumed a position as England's pace bowling advisor in the warmer months after taking 391 wickets in 107 Tests for New Zealand.

Commenting as England's squad for the opening of three Twenty20 games against the Kiwis was named, Southee stated of his availability: "We are still evaluating that at the moment.

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

England bowling legend Stuart Broad had declared the Australia side as their "weakest squad since 2010", but the consultant was in no uncertainty over what to expect during the series, which starts on November 21.

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

"The team's attention is firmly on what we're trying to do. In my opinion the caliber of [the English] side that's going out to the host country is brilliant.

"It ought to be an absolute cracker, that series. Not just [are|do] fans from both nations looking forward to it, I believe the entire cricketing community is."

However, prior to England head 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

• Jacob Bethell

• Brook (captain)

• Tom Banton

• Curran

• Cox

• Brydon Carse

• Liam Dawson

• Adil Rashid

• Wood