England vs New Zealand: Full schedule, squads, livestreaming and all you need to know
England will begin their home summer with a three-Test series against New Zealand, starting at Lord’s on June 4. The series is part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle and comes at an important juncture for both teams.
England head into the series looking to put behind them a disappointing Ashes campaign in Australia. Ben Stokes’ side came under intense scrutiny following the heavy defeat, but the leadership group of director of cricket Rob Key, head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Stokes has remained intact as England looks to rebuild.
There have already been notable changes to the playing squad. England have moved on from top-order batters Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope, handing opportunities to Durham opener Emilio Gay and young batter Jacob Bethell. Gay has impressed in the County Championship this season, while Bethell arrives after scoring his maiden Test century during the Ashes.
New Zealand, meanwhile, arrive in England full of confidence after their dominant innings-and-79-run victory over Ireland in Belfast. The Black Caps are currently second in the WTC standings and will be hoping to strengthen their position with a strong showing in England.
One of the major talking points for the visitors will be the return of fast bowlers Kyle Jamieson and Will O’Rourke. The towering pair are expected to feature together in a full-strength New Zealand pace attack for the first time in Test cricket after recovering from back injuries.
There is also significant attention on Kane Williamson. The former New Zealand captain opted out of a central contract in 2024 and has managed his international commitments on a series-by-series basis. With Williamson turning 35 and admitting this will be his fifth and final Test appearance at Lord’s, speculation continues over how much longer he will remain available for New Zealand.
The last time these two teams met in a Test series, England secured a 2-1 victory during their tour of New Zealand in 2024.
WTC POINTS AT STAKE
The series forms part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle. New Zealand currently sits second in the standings with two wins from three matches, while England are seventh after playing ten Tests.
England enters the series on the back of their Ashes defeat in Australia, while New Zealand arrive after a commanding win over Ireland. With crucial WTC points on offer and two evenly matched sides taking the field, the three-Test contest promises to be one of the highlights of the early English summer.
England vs New Zealand 2026: What is the full Test series schedule?
- 1st Test: June 4–8, Lord’s Cricket Ground, London — 3:30 PM IST
- 2nd Test: June 17–21, The Oval, London — 3:30 PM IST
- 3rd Test: June 25–29, Trent Bridge, Nottingham — 3:30 PM IST
Where to watch England vs New Zealand in India?
The England vs New Zealand Test series will be broadcast live on Sony Sports Network in India. Fans can also watch all three Test matches live on the SonyLIV app and website.
What are the full squads for the England vs New Zealand Test series?
ENGLAND: Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, James Rew, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Ben Stokes (captain), Jacob Bethell, Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Matthew Fisher, Ollie Robinson, Shoaib Bashir and Josh Tongue.
NEW ZEALAND: Tom Latham (captain), Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Kane Williamson, Zak Foulkes, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Dean Foxcroft, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Will O’Rourke and Blair Tickner.
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