🔗 Share this article England Coach Southee Unsure on The Ashes Participation Tim Southee's most recent Test for New Zealand was against England in the final month of 2024. England's bowling consultant Southee is currently evaluating the extent of his role will be at the forthcoming Ashes contest in the host nation. The ex- New Zealand seamer is only likely to be present for the first Test because of his participation in the International League T20 competition, which begins on December 2 in the UAE. Southee, 36, assumed a position as England's pace bowling advisor in the summer 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 announced, Southee said of his participation: "We are still evaluating the situation at the present time. "We'll see the outcome over the next little while." England pace icon Stuart Broad had declared the Australia team as their "worst team since 2010", but Southee was in little doubt over the anticipated challenge during the series, which starts on November 21. "I don't think there's at any time a poor Australian cricket team," Southee remarked. "The team's attention is firmly on our own objectives. In my opinion the quality of [England's] side that's going out to the host country is brilliant. "It ought to be an thrilling encounter, that series. Not just [are|do] fans from both nations looking forward to it, I believe the whole cricket world is." However, prior to the English team travel to Perth for the opening Ashes Test, they take on the Kiwis in the city of Christchurch on this Saturday. England XI v the Kiwis: Salt Buttler Bethell Brook (captain) Banton Curran Cox Brydon Carse Liam Dawson Adil Rashid Luke Wood