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England fast-bowling advisor Tim Southee is currently evaluating the extent of his role will be at the forthcoming Ashes contest in Australia.

The former New Zealand pace bowler is only likely to be present for the opening match due to his involvement in the ILT20 competition, which starts on 2 December in the United Arab Emirates.

Southee, 36, assumed a role as the English team's fast bowling consultant in the summer after claiming 391 wickets in 107 Tests for the Kiwis.

Speaking as England's squad for the first of three T20 matches against New Zealand was named, Southee said of his participation: "We are still evaluating the situation at the present time.

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

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

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

"The team's attention is squarely on our own objectives. In my opinion the caliber of [the English] team that's heading out to Australia is brilliant.

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

However, prior to the English team travel to the city of Perth for the opening Ashes Test, they take on New Zealand in the city of Christchurch on this Saturday.

England XI v the Kiwis:

• Phil Salt

• Jos Buttler

• Jacob Bethell

• Brook (captain)

• Banton

• Curran

• Jordan Cox

• Carse

• Liam Dawson

• Rashid

• Wood