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

The ex- New Zealand seamer is only likely to be available for the first Test because of his participation in the International League T20 tournament, which begins on 2 December in the United Arab Emirates.

The 36-year-old, aged 36, took up a position as England's fast bowling consultant in the warmer months after claiming 391 scalps in 107 Tests for the Kiwis.

Commenting as England's team for the opening of three T20 matches against New Zealand was announced, Southee stated of his participation: "We are still evaluating that at the moment.

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

English pace icon Stuart Broad had declared the Australian team as their "weakest squad since 2010", but Southee was in no uncertainty over the anticipated challenge during the contest, which begins on November 21.

"In my view there's ever a bad Aussie side," he remarked.

"The team's attention is firmly on our own objectives. In my opinion the caliber of [England's] team that's going out to Australia is excellent.

"It should be an absolute cracker, the Ashes. Not only [are|do] fans from both nations looking forward to it, I think the whole cricket world is."

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

England XI v New Zealand:

• Phil Salt

• Buttler

• Bethell

• Brook (captain)

• Tom Banton

• Curran

• Cox

• Brydon Carse

• Liam Dawson

• Rashid

• Wood