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

The ex- New Zealand seamer is expected to be available for the first Test due to his participation in the ILT20 tournament, which starts on 2 December in the United Arab Emirates.

Southee, aged 36, took up a position as England's pace bowling advisor in the summer after taking 391 scalps in 107 Test matches for New Zealand.

Speaking as England's team for the first of three T20 matches against the Kiwis was named, Southee stated of his participation: "We are still evaluating the situation at the present time.

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

England bowling legend Stuart Broad had declared the Australia team as their "weakest squad since 2010", but the consultant was in little doubt over what to expect during the series, which begins on 21 November.

"I don't think there's at any time a bad Aussie side," he remarked.

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

"It ought to be an absolute cracker, that series. Not only [are|do] fans from both nations eagerly anticipate it, I believe the entire cricketing community is."

But, before England travel to the city of Perth for the first Ashes match, they take on the Kiwis in the city of Christchurch on this Saturday.

England XI v New Zealand:

• Salt

• Jos Buttler

• Jacob Bethell

• Brook (captain)

• Tom Banton

• Sam Curran

• Jordan Cox

• Brydon Carse

• Liam Dawson

• Adil Rashid

• Luke Wood