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England's fast-bowling advisor Tim Southee is still working through the extent of his role will be during the upcoming Ashes series in the host nation.

The former Kiwi pace bowler is expected to be present for the opening match due to his involvement in the ILT20 competition, which starts on 2 December in the UAE.

Southee, 36, assumed a position as England's fast bowling consultant in the summer after claiming 391 scalps in 107 Test matches for New Zealand.

Speaking as England's squad for the first of three T20 matches against New Zealand was announced, Southee stated of his availability: "We're still working through that at the moment.

"We will determine what happens over the next little while."

England bowling legend Broad had stated the Australian team as their "weakest squad since 2010", but Southee was in little doubt over the anticipated challenge during the series, which begins on November 21.

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

"Our focus is firmly on what we're trying to do. In my opinion the quality of [the English] team that's heading out to Australia is excellent.

"It ought to be an absolute cracker, the Ashes. Not only [are|do] fans from both nations looking forward to it, I think the entire cricketing community is."

However, before the English team head to the city of Perth for the opening Ashes Test, they face New Zealand in the city of Christchurch on this Saturday.

England XI v the Kiwis:

• Salt

• Buttler

• Bethell

• Brook (captain)

• Banton

• Sam Curran

• Jordan Cox

• Carse

• Liam Dawson

• Adil Rashid

• Wood