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England's bowling consultant Tim Southee is currently evaluating the extent of his role will be during the forthcoming Ashes series in the host nation.

The ex- New Zealand seamer is only likely to be present for the first Test due to his participation in the ILT20 tournament, which begins on December 2 in the UAE.

The 36-year-old, aged 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 New Zealand.

Commenting as the English squad for the opening of three Twenty20 games against the Kiwis was named, Southee stated of his participation: "We are still evaluating the situation at the present time.

"We will determine the outcome over the coming days."

England pace icon Stuart Broad had declared the Australian team as their "weakest squad since 2010", but Southee was in no uncertainty over what to expect during the series, which begins on November 21.

"I don't think there's ever a poor Aussie side," he remarked.

"The team's attention is squarely on what we're trying to do. In my opinion the quality of [the English] team that's going out to the host country is excellent.

"It should be an thrilling encounter, that series. Not just [are|do] English and Australian people eagerly anticipate it, I believe the entire cricketing community is."

But, prior to England travel to Perth for the opening Ashes Test, they take on New Zealand in Christchurch on Saturday.

England's Playing XI v New Zealand:

• Salt

• Buttler

• Bethell

• Brook (captain)

• Tom Banton

• Curran

• Cox

• Brydon Carse

• Liam Dawson

• Adil Rashid

• Luke Wood