🔗 Share this article England's Coach Tim Southee Uncertain on The Ashes Participation The bowler's last Test for New Zealand was against England 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 Australia. The ex- Kiwi seamer is only likely to be present for the first Test due to his participation in the ILT20 competition, which starts on December 2 in the UAE. The 36-year-old, 36, took up a role as England's pace bowling advisor in the warmer months after claiming 391 scalps in 107 Test matches for the Kiwis. Speaking as England's team for the opening of three T20 matches against the Kiwis was named, he said of his participation: "We're still working through the situation at the present time. "We'll see what happens over the next little while." English pace icon Stuart Broad had stated the Australian team as their "weakest squad since 2010", but the consultant was in no uncertainty over the anticipated challenge during the series, which begins on 21 November. "In my view there's at any time a bad Aussie side," he remarked. "Our focus is squarely on our own objectives. In my opinion the quality of [the English] side that's going out to the host country is excellent. "It ought to be an absolute cracker, that series. Not only [are|do] English and Australian people eagerly anticipate it, I believe the whole cricket world is." However, prior to the English team head to Perth for the first Ashes match, they face the Kiwis in Christchurch on Saturday. England XI v New Zealand: Phil Salt Buttler Jacob Bethell Brook (captain) Banton Curran Jordan Cox Brydon Carse Liam Dawson Rashid Luke Wood