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England bowling consultant Southee is still working through what his involvement will be at the upcoming Ashes series in Australia.

The former Kiwi seamer is expected to be available for the first Test because of his participation in the ILT20 competition, which begins on 2 December in the United Arab Emirates.

The 36-year-old, 36, assumed a role as the English team's fast bowling consultant in the warmer months after claiming 391 wickets in 107 Tests for New Zealand.

Commenting as England's squad for the first of three T20 matches against the Kiwis was named, he stated of his participation: "We're still working through that at the moment.

"We'll see what happens over the coming days."

England pace icon Broad had stated the Australian side as their "worst team 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," Southee said.

"Our focus is firmly on what we're trying to do. I think the quality of [the English] side 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 eagerly anticipate it, I believe the entire cricketing community is."

But, before England travel to Perth for the first Ashes match, they face New Zealand in the city of Christchurch on Saturday.

England XI v New Zealand:

• Salt

• Buttler

• Bethell

• Brook (captain)

• Tom Banton

• Curran

• Cox

• Carse

• Dawson

• Rashid

• Wood