England's Coach Tim Southee Uncertain on Ashes Participation

England bowling consultant Tim Southee is currently evaluating the extent of his role will be during the forthcoming Ashes contest in Australia.

The former New Zealand seamer is expected to be available for the opening match because of his involvement in the International League T20 tournament, which starts on 2 December in the UAE.

The 36-year-old, aged 36, took up a role as the English team's fast bowling consultant in the warmer months after taking 391 scalps in 107 Test matches for New Zealand.

Commenting as England's team for the first of three Twenty20 games against the Kiwis was announced, Southee said of his availability: "We're still working through that at the present time.

"We'll see what happens over the next little while."

English bowling legend Stuart Broad had declared the Australia team as their "weakest squad since 2010", but Southee was in no uncertainty over the anticipated challenge during the contest, which begins on November 21.

"In my view there's at any time a poor Aussie side," he remarked.

"The team's attention is squarely on our own objectives. In my opinion the quality of [the English] side that's heading out to the host country is brilliant.

"It ought to be an absolute cracker, the Ashes. Not only [are|do] English and Australian people eagerly anticipate it, I believe the whole cricket world is."

However, before the English team head to the city of Perth for the opening Ashes Test, they take on New Zealand in Christchurch on this Saturday.

England's Playing XI v New Zealand: