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England bowling consultant Tim Southee is currently evaluating what his involvement will be at the forthcoming Ashes contest in Australia.

The ex- New Zealand seamer is only likely to be available for the first Test due to his involvement in the ILT20 tournament, which starts on December 2 in the UAE.

Southee, 36, assumed a role as the English team's fast bowling consultant in the warmer months after taking 391 wickets in 107 Test matches for the Kiwis.

Commenting as the English team for the opening of three Twenty20 games against New Zealand was announced, Southee said of his participation: "We're still working through that at the present time.

"We will determine the outcome over the next little while."

England pace icon Stuart Broad had stated the Australian side as their "worst team since 2010", but the consultant was in no uncertainty over what to expect during the contest, which starts on 21 November.

"I don't think there's at any time a poor Aussie side," Southee said.

"The team's attention is squarely on what we're trying to do. I think the caliber of [England's] team that's going out to the host country is brilliant.

"It should be an absolute cracker, the Ashes. Not only [are|do] fans from both nations looking forward to it, I believe the entire cricketing community is."

However, prior to the English team head to Perth for the first Ashes match, they face New Zealand in the city of Christchurch on this Saturday.

England XI v the Kiwis:

• Phil Salt

• Jos Buttler

• Bethell

• Harry Brook (c)

• Banton

• Sam Curran

• Cox

• Brydon Carse

• Dawson

• Rashid

• Wood