England's Coach Southee Unsure on The Ashes Availability
Tim Southee's last Test for the Kiwis was versus England in the final month of 2024.
England's bowling consultant Southee is currently evaluating the extent of his role will be during the forthcoming Ashes contest in Australia.
The ex- New Zealand pace bowler is expected to be available for the opening match due to his involvement in the ILT20 tournament, which starts on December 2 in the United Arab Emirates.
The 36-year-old, 36, took up a position as England's fast bowling consultant in the warmer months after taking 391 scalps in 107 Test matches for New Zealand.
Speaking as the English team for the first of three Twenty20 games against New Zealand was announced, he said of his participation: "We are still evaluating the situation at the present time.
"We'll see what happens over the coming days."
English pace icon Stuart Broad had declared the Australian team as their "worst team since 2010", but the consultant was in no uncertainty over the anticipated challenge during the series, which begins on 21 November.
"I don't think there's at any time a bad Australian cricket team," Southee remarked.
"The team's attention is squarely on our own objectives. In my opinion the caliber of [the English] team that's heading out to the host country is brilliant.
"It ought to be an absolute cracker, the Ashes. Not just [are|do] English and Australian people eagerly anticipate it, I think the whole cricket world is."
But, before England travel to Perth for the opening Ashes Test, they take on New Zealand in Christchurch on this Saturday.
England's Playing XI v New Zealand:
Salt
Jos Buttler
Jacob Bethell
Harry Brook (c)
Banton
Curran
Jordan Cox
Carse
Liam Dawson
Adil Rashid
Wood
