England Bowling Consultant Tim Southee Unsure on Ashes Participation

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

The ex- Kiwi pace bowler is expected to be available for the opening match due to his participation in the International League T20 competition, which starts on 2 December in the UAE.

The 36-year-old, 36, took up a position as the English team's fast bowling consultant in the summer after claiming 391 wickets in 107 Tests for the Kiwis.

Speaking as England's team for the first of three Twenty20 games against New Zealand was announced, he said of his availability: "We're still working through that at the moment.

"We will determine what happens over the next little while."

England pace icon Broad had stated the Australian side as their "worst team since 2010", but the consultant was in little doubt over what to expect during the contest, which starts on November 21.

"I don't think there's ever a poor Australian cricket team," he remarked.

"Our focus is firmly on what we're trying to do. In my opinion the caliber of [England's] side that's going out to Australia is brilliant.

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

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

England XI v New Zealand:

• Phil Salt

• Buttler

• Bethell

• Brook (captain)

• Banton

• Curran

• Cox

• Brydon Carse

• Dawson

• Rashid

• Wood