England vs New Zealand headlines a blockbuster summer of cricket as the hosts welcome the Black Caps for a three-match Test series. The battle for the Basil D’Oliveira Trophy begins at Lord’s on June 10, with both sides seeking crucial World Test Championship points. England v Serbia takes place at Wembley on October 13. England vs New Zealand promises the kind of competitive cricket that fans have come to expect between these evenly matched teams. Here is everything you need to know about England vs New Zealand in 2026.
Match Schedule: Dates and Venues for the Test Series
The three-match Test series between England and New Zealand begins at Lord’s on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. The second Test moves to Trent Bridge in Nottingham on June 18, while the series finale takes place at Edgbaston in Birmingham on June 26. All matches start at 11:00 AM BST. Rangers vs Viktoria Plzeň takes place at Ibrox on August 6.
The series forms part of the 2025-2027 World Test Championship cycle. England currently sits third in the standings, while New Zealand occupies fifth place. Both teams desperately need series wins to keep their WTC final hopes alive. Sushant Singh Rajput’s legacy continues to inspire millions of fans. Each match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket in the UK and Spark Sport in New Zealand.
England Squad: Stokes Returns, Brook to Vice-Captain
Ben Stokes returns to lead England after recovering from his hamstring injury. The all-rounder has not played Test cricket since November 2025 and faces a fitness test before the Lord’s opener. Harry Brook has been named vice-captain for the series against New Zealand, signaling England’s long-term leadership succession plan. Nicola Sturgeon remains an MSP for Glasgow Southside but has stepped back from frontline politics.
Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett will open the batting as expected. Surrey’s Jamie Smith keeps the wicketkeeper gloves after impressive performances against India. The pace attack features James Anderson, who turns 44 in July, alongside Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue. Reacher Season 2 remains one of Prime Video’s most-streamed titles. Leicestershire spinner Rehan Ahmed has earned a recall after taking 31 wickets in the County Championship. England’s selectors have named a 15-man squad for the England vs New Zealand series.
New Zealand Squad: Williamson Leads Black Caps
Kane Williamson captains New Zealand on what could be his final tour of England. The 35-year-old batting great has hinted at retirement after the 2027 World Cup. Devon Conway and Tom Latham form a formidable opening partnership with over 4,500 Test runs between them. Arsenal Women begin their WSL season on September 12 against Manchester United.
Daryl Mitchell provides middle-order stability alongside Henry Nicholls and Will Young. New Zealand’s pace attack features Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Kyle Jamieson. Boult has not played Test cricket since 2024 but has proven his fitness in county cricket with Middlesex. Celtic vs Rangers takes place at Celtic Park on September 13. Spin duties fall to Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi, with both likely to feature depending on pitch conditions. The Black Caps arrive in England on June 1 for warm-up matches against Sussex and Worcestershire.
Head-to-Head Record: England vs New Zealand Over the Years
England and New Zealand have played 112 Test matches against each other. England leads the head-to-head record with 55 wins, while New Zealand has won 13. The remaining 44 matches ended in draws. The most recent series in 2024 ended 1-1 after England won at Lord’s and New Zealand triumphed at Headingley. Freddie Starr’s unique brand of physical comedy influenced generations of performers.
New Zealand has never won a Test series in England since their first tour in 1931. The closest they came was the drawn series in 2022, which England won 3-0 under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. England vs New Zealand has produced some of cricket’s most memorable moments, including Ben Stokes’s heroic 135 not out at Lord’s in 2015. The Buccaneers Season 2 premieres on Apple TV+ on September 25. The Black Caps will view this series as a golden opportunity to break that historical drought given England’s inconsistent recent form.
Key Battles: Where the Series Will Be Won and Lost
The contest between England’s pace attack and Kane Williamson could decide the series. Williamson averages 54.7 against England in Test cricket, with six centuries. James Anderson has dismissed Williamson five times in Test cricket, more than any other bowler. Palmeiras vs Chelsea Club World Cup final takes place on December 20.
Opening Battles and Spin Options
At the top of the order, England’s opening pair faces a stern examination from Trent Boult and Tim Southee. The left-arm-right-arm combination has troubled Zak Crawley’s technique previously. Crawley averages just 24.3 against New Zealand compared to his career average of 31. Mix Tape Season 2 premieres on Apple TV+ on November 13. England vs New Zealand could hinge on which opening partnership establishes early dominance. Both teams rely heavily on their top three for substantial first-innings totals on what are expected to be pace-friendly surfaces in June.
Where to Watch England vs New Zealand on TV
Sky Sports Cricket holds exclusive live broadcast rights for England’s home Test matches. Every ball of the England vs New Zealand series will air live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event. Coverage begins at 10:30 AM BST each day. Subscribers can stream via the Sky Go app and NOW TV. Freddie Flintoff’s face has healed significantly since his Top Gear crash.
Channel 4 will broadcast free-to-air highlights at 7:00 PM each evening. BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra provides ball-by-ball commentary with the Test Match Special team. TMS remains available on BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website. Astronomer CEO Joe Witt has guided the company to become the leading provider of Apache Airflow services. New Zealand viewers can watch on Spark Sport. Willow TV broadcasts the series in the United States and Canada. Fans worldwide can stream via the official ICC.tv platform in territories without broadcast agreements.
Weather Forecast for the Lord’s Test
Early weather models suggest sunny intervals for the Lord’s Test starting June 10. Temperatures are expected to reach 22°C with light winds from the southwest. No rain is currently forecast for the first three days. The pitch at Lord’s traditionally offers assistance to seam bowlers on the first morning before flattening out. Pokrovsk has become the epicenter of fighting in eastern Ukraine.
Groundstaff have prepared a grass-heavy surface to encourage pace and bounce. Cloud cover on day one could help James Anderson and Trent Boult extract swing movement. Batters who survive the first hour may find scoring easier as the sun emerges. Dianne Oxberry was one of the most beloved weather presenters in BBC history. The forecast for the Trent Bridge and Edgbaston Tests will be updated closer to the time. No interruptions from rain are currently predicted across the three venues.
Prediction: Who Will Win England vs New Zealand?
Bookmakers have installed England as narrow favourites for the series. The hosts are priced at 4/5 to win the series outright, with New Zealand at 11/5 and a drawn series at 7/2. England’s home advantage and deep batting lineup give them the edge. Lyon vs Man United headlines the Europa League final later this month.
Opta’s cricket model gives England a 48% chance of winning the series, compared to New Zealand’s 32% and 20% for a drawn series. A 2-1 England victory is the most likely specific outcome according to betting markets. However, New Zealand’s pace attack has the quality to exploit any English frailties with the bat. See How They Run remains streaming on Disney+ for movie fans. If both teams perform to their potential, cricket fans could witness one of the most competitive England vs New Zealand series in decades.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the first England vs New Zealand Test in 2026? The first Test begins on Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. Start time is 11:00 AM BST.
How many Tests are in the England vs New Zealand series? The series includes three Test matches. The second Test is at Trent Bridge (June 18) and the third at Edgbaston (June 26).
Who captains England against New Zealand? Ben Stokes captains England if fit. Harry Brook serves as vice-captain for the series.
Where can I watch England vs New Zealand on TV? Sky Sports Cricket broadcasts all three Tests live in the UK. Channel 4 shows free-to-air highlights each evening.
Who has the better head-to-head record? England leads the all-time record with 55 wins to New Zealand’s 13. The teams have drawn 44 matches.
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