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England bowling consultant Southee is still working through the extent of his role will be at the upcoming Ashes series in Australia.

The ex- New Zealand pace bowler is expected to be present for the first Test because of his involvement in the ILT20 competition, which begins on 2 December in the United Arab Emirates.

Southee, 36, took up a role as the English team's fast bowling consultant in the summer after claiming 391 scalps in 107 Test matches for the Kiwis.

Commenting as England's squad for the opening of three Twenty20 games against the Kiwis was announced, he stated of his participation: "We're still working through that at the present time.

"We will determine what happens over the coming days."

English bowling legend Broad had stated the Australia side as their "worst team since 2010", but the consultant was in no uncertainty over the anticipated challenge during the series, which starts on November 21.

"In my view there's ever a poor Australian cricket team," he remarked.

"The team's attention is squarely on what we're trying to do. I think the quality of [the English] side that's going out to Australia is brilliant.

"It ought to be an absolute cracker, that series. Not only [are|do] English and Australian people looking forward to it, I believe the whole cricket world is."

But, prior to the English team head to Perth for the first Ashes match, they face New Zealand in Christchurch on this Saturday.

England's Playing XI v the Kiwis:

• Salt

• Jos Buttler

• Jacob Bethell

• Harry Brook (c)

• Banton

• Sam Curran

• Cox

• Brydon Carse

• Dawson

• Rashid

• Wood