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England's bowling consultant Tim Southee is still working through the extent of his role will be at the upcoming Ashes contest in the host nation.

The former Kiwi seamer is expected to be present for the first Test due to his involvement in the ILT20 tournament, which starts on December 2 in the UAE.

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

Commenting as the English squad 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 moment.

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

England pace icon Stuart Broad had declared the Australia side as their "weakest squad since 2010", but Southee was in little doubt over what to expect during the series, which starts on 21 November.

"I don't think there's at any time a bad Australian cricket team," he said.

"Our focus is firmly on our own objectives. I think the quality of [the English] side that's heading out to the host country is brilliant.

"It ought to be an thrilling encounter, the Ashes. Not just [are|do] English and Australian people looking forward to it, I believe the entire cricketing community is."

However, before the English team head to the city of Perth for the first Ashes match, they face the Kiwis in the city of Christchurch on Saturday.

England XI v the Kiwis:

• Salt

• Buttler

• Bethell

• Brook (captain)

• Banton

• Sam Curran

• Cox

• Carse

• Liam Dawson

• Adil Rashid

• Wood