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

The ex- New Zealand seamer is only likely to be present for the opening match due to his participation in the International League T20 tournament, which begins on 2 December in the United Arab Emirates.

The 36-year-old, aged 36, assumed a position as the English team's pace bowling advisor in the warmer months after claiming 391 wickets in 107 Test matches for New Zealand.

Speaking as the English squad for the opening of three Twenty20 games against the Kiwis was announced, he said of his participation: "We are still evaluating the situation at the moment.

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

English pace icon Broad had stated the Australian team as their "worst team since 2010", but Southee was in no uncertainty over what to expect during the series, which begins on 21 November.

"In my view there's at any time a poor Aussie side," he said.

"The team's attention is firmly on our own objectives. I think the quality of [the English] side that's going out to Australia is brilliant.

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

However, prior to the English team travel to Perth for the first Ashes match, they face the Kiwis in Christchurch on Saturday.

England's Playing XI v New Zealand:

• Salt

• Buttler

• Jacob Bethell

• Harry Brook (c)

• Tom Banton

• Sam Curran

• Jordan Cox

• Brydon Carse

• Dawson

• Rashid

• Luke Wood