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England's bowling consultant Tim Southee is currently evaluating the extent of his role will be during the upcoming Ashes series in Australia.

The former Kiwi pace bowler is only likely to be present for the first Test because of his involvement in the ILT20 tournament, which begins on 2 December in the UAE.

The 36-year-old, 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 team for the opening of three T20 matches against the Kiwis was named, he stated of his availability: "We're still working through that at the present time.

"We'll see the outcome over the next little while."

England pace icon Broad had stated the Australia side as their "worst team since 2010", but the consultant was in little doubt over what to expect during the series, which begins on 21 November.

"In my view there's at any time a bad Australian cricket team," Southee remarked.

"The team's attention is firmly on our own objectives. I think the caliber of [England's] team that's heading out to Australia is brilliant.

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

However, prior to England travel to Perth for the opening Ashes Test, they face the Kiwis in Christchurch on this Saturday.

England XI v the Kiwis:

• Salt

• Jos Buttler

• Jacob Bethell

• Brook (captain)

• Tom Banton

• Sam Curran

• Cox

• Brydon Carse

• Liam Dawson

• Adil Rashid

• Luke Wood