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England bowling consultant Southee is still working through what his involvement will be during the forthcoming Ashes contest in the host nation.

The ex- New Zealand pace bowler is only likely to be present for the opening match because of his participation in the ILT20 competition, which starts on December 2 in the United Arab Emirates.

Southee, aged 36, took up a role as England's fast bowling consultant in the warmer months after claiming 391 wickets in 107 Test matches for the Kiwis.

Commenting as the English team for the first of three Twenty20 games against New Zealand was announced, Southee stated of his participation: "We're still working through that at the moment.

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

English pace icon Stuart Broad had stated the Australia team as their "weakest squad since 2010", but the consultant was in no uncertainty over what to expect during the contest, which begins on 21 November.

"I don't think there's ever a bad Aussie side," Southee said.

"Our focus is firmly on what we're trying to do. I think the caliber of [England's] team that's going out to the host country 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 entire cricketing community is."

However, before the English team travel to the city of Perth for the first Ashes match, they take on New Zealand in the city of Christchurch on this Saturday.

England XI v the Kiwis:

• Phil Salt

• Jos Buttler

• Bethell

• Harry Brook (c)

• Tom Banton

• Curran

• Jordan Cox

• Carse

• Liam Dawson

• Adil Rashid

• Luke Wood