England Bowling Consultant Southee Uncertain on Ashes Availability

England's bowling consultant Southee is currently evaluating the extent of his role will be during the upcoming Ashes contest in the host nation.

The former Kiwi seamer is only likely to be available for the opening match because of his participation in the International League T20 tournament, which starts on 2 December in the UAE.

Southee, 36, took up a role as the English team's fast bowling consultant in the summer after claiming 391 scalps in 107 Test matches for New Zealand.

Speaking as the English squad for the first of three Twenty20 games against New Zealand was named, he stated of his availability: "We're still working through the situation at the moment.

"We will determine the outcome over the coming days."

England bowling legend Stuart Broad had declared the Australia team as their "worst team since 2010", but the consultant was in little doubt over what to expect during the series, which starts on November 21.

"In my view there's at any time a poor Australian cricket team," Southee said.

"The team's attention is firmly on our own objectives. I think the quality of [England's] side that's going out to the host country is excellent.

"It should be an absolute cracker, that series. Not only [are|do] English and Australian people looking forward to it, I believe the whole cricket world is."

However, before the English team travel to Perth for the first Ashes match, they face New Zealand in Christchurch on Saturday.

England's Playing XI v the Kiwis:

• Phil Salt

• Buttler

• Bethell

• Brook (captain)

• Banton

• Curran

• Jordan Cox

• Carse

• Liam Dawson

• Rashid

• Wood