England's Coach Southee Uncertain on Ashes Availability
The bowler's last Test match for the Kiwis was against the English side in the final month of 2024.
England bowling consultant Tim Southee is still working through the extent of his role will be at the forthcoming Ashes contest in the host nation.
The ex- New Zealand pace bowler is only likely to be present for the first Test because of his involvement in the ILT20 tournament, which begins on 2 December in the United Arab Emirates.
Southee, aged 36, assumed a position as England's fast bowling consultant in the summer after taking 391 scalps in 107 Test matches for New Zealand.
Commenting as England's team for the first of three T20 matches against New Zealand was named, Southee stated of his participation: "We are still evaluating that at the moment.
"We will determine what happens over the next little while."
English bowling legend Broad had declared the Australia team as their "worst team since 2010", but Southee was in little doubt over what to expect during the series, which begins on 21 November.
"I don't think there's ever a bad Aussie side," Southee said.
"The team's attention is squarely on what we're trying to do. In my opinion the caliber of [the English] side that's going out to Australia 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 whole cricket world is."
But, prior to England head to the city of Perth for the opening Ashes Test, they take on the Kiwis in Christchurch on this Saturday.
England's Playing XI v New Zealand:
Phil Salt
Buttler
Jacob Bethell
Brook (captain)
Banton
Curran
Jordan Cox
Carse
Liam Dawson
Rashid
Luke Wood
