England host New Zealand for a three-Test series in June 2026, starting at Lord’s on 4 June.
Both teams are competing for crucial ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 points, with the iconic Crowe-Thorpe Trophy also on the line.
Ben Stokes leads England at home while Tom Latham captains a settled New Zealand touring party across three of England’s most beloved grounds.
NZ Tour of ENG 2026 Overview
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Series Name | New Zealand Tour of England 2026 |
| Format | Test Cricket |
| Number of Tests | 3 |
| Series Sponsor | Rothesay |
| Trophy | Crowe-Thorpe Trophy |
| WTC Cycle | 2025–27 |
| Start Date | 4 June 2026 |
| End Date | 29 June 2026 |
| England Captain | Ben Stokes |
| New Zealand Captain | Tom Latham |
Series Context
England have not lost a home Test series since Brendon McCullum’s appointment as head coach. They were also the last side to beat New Zealand in their own backyard, doing so in 2021.
England come into this series off a tough Ashes defeat in Australia. Key changes have been made, with Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope dropped after inconsistent form, and three uncapped players earning their maiden call-ups.
New Zealand arrive having warmed up well, dismissing Ireland by an innings in their last outing. They bring a settled squad, with Mitchell Santner returning after an IPL injury.
New Zealand Tour of England 2026 – Full Schedule & Match Timetable
The New Zealand Tour of England 2026 schedule includes every fixture, helping fans follow the series from start to finish.
| Test | Dates | Day | Venue | City | GMT | Local | IST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | 4–8 June 2026 | Thu–Mon | Lord’s Cricket Ground | London | 10:00 AM | 11:00 AM | 3:30 PM |
| 2nd Test | 17–21 June 2026 | Wed–Sun | The Kia Oval | London | 10:00 AM | 11:00 AM | 3:30 PM |
| 3rd Test | 25–29 June 2026 | Thu–Mon | Trent Bridge | Nottingham | 10:00 AM | 11:00 AM | 3:30 PM |
Match-by-Match Fixture Details
1st Test — Lord’s Cricket Ground, London
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Dates | 4–8 June 2026 |
| Venue | Lord’s Cricket Ground, London |
| Start Time | 10:00 AM GMT / 11:00 AM Local / 3:30 PM IST |
| Ticket Status | Days 1–3 Sold Out; Limited tickets for Days 4–5 |
2nd Test — The Kia Oval, London
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Dates | 17–21 June 2026 |
| Venue | The Kia Oval (Kennington Oval), London |
| Start Time | 10:00 AM GMT / 11:00 AM Local / 3:30 PM IST |
| Ticket Status | Days 1–3 Sold Out; Limited tickets for Days 4–5 |
3rd Test — Trent Bridge, Nottingham
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Dates | 25–29 June 2026 |
| Venue | Trent Bridge, Nottingham |
| Start Time | 10:00 AM GMT / 11:00 AM Local / 3:30 PM IST |
| Ticket Status | Days 1–3 Sold Out; Limited tickets for Days 4–5 |
New Zealand Tour of England 2026 Venue Guide
The New Zealand Tour of England 2026 will be played across some of England’s leading cricket venues. Check the complete list of stadiums hosting the series.
Lord’s Cricket Ground — 1st Test
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | St John’s Wood, London |
| Capacity | ~31,000 |
| Nickname | The Home of Cricket |
| Operated By | Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) |
| End Names | Pavilion End & Nursery End |
| First Test | 21 July 1884 |
The most iconic cricket ground in the world. Lord’s has hosted over 140 Tests and is synonymous with the pinnacle of the game.
The Kia Oval — 2nd Test
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | Kennington, London |
| Capacity | ~25,500 |
| Home Team | Surrey County Cricket Club |
| End Names | Pavilion End & Vauxhall End |
| First Test | 6 September 1880 |
One of England’s oldest grounds, the Oval has a rich history of hosting decisive Tests, including many famous England victories.
Trent Bridge — 3rd Test
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire |
| Capacity | 17,500 |
| Home Team | Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club |
| End Names | Radcliffe Road End & Stuart Broad End |
| First Test | 1 June 1899 |
England are unbeaten at Trent Bridge since 2018. It is one of the most atmospheric venues in English cricket and a fitting stage for a series decider.
New Zealand Tour of England 2026 Squads & Players List
The New Zealand Tour of England 2026 squads include a mix of experienced stars and emerging talents from both sides.
England Squad — 1st Test
Captain: Ben Stokes | Selector: Marcus North
Three uncapped players earn their maiden call-ups: Emilio Gay (Durham), Sonny Baker (Hampshire), and James Rew (Somerset). Rehan Ahmed, Matthew Fisher, and Ollie Robinson return to the squad after time away.
| Sr.No. | Player | County | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ben Stokes (C) | Durham | All-rounder | Captain |
| 2 | Harry Brook | Yorkshire | Middle-order Batter | Vice-Captain |
| 3 | Joe Root | Yorkshire | Top-order Batter | — |
| 4 | Ben Duckett | Nottinghamshire | Opener / WK-Batter | — |
| 5 | Jacob Bethell | Warwickshire | All-rounder | — |
| 6 | Emilio Gay | Durham | Top-order Batter | Uncapped |
| 7 | James Rew | Somerset | WK-Batter | Uncapped |
| 8 | Jamie Smith | Surrey | Wicketkeeper-Batter | — |
| 9 | Rehan Ahmed | Leicestershire | Leg-spin Bowler | Returns |
| 10 | Gus Atkinson | Surrey | Fast Bowler | — |
| 11 | Sonny Baker | Hampshire | Fast Bowler | Uncapped |
| 12 | Shoaib Bashir | Derbyshire | Off-spin Bowler | — |
| 13 | Matthew Fisher | Surrey | Seam Bowler | Returns |
| 14 | Ollie Robinson | Sussex | Seam Bowler | Returns |
| 15 | Josh Tongue | Nottinghamshire | Fast Bowler | — |
New Zealand Squad — Test Series
Captain: Tom Latham
A settled touring party with no new faces. Mitchell Santner returns to the squad after recovering from an injury during IPL 2026.
| Sr.No. | Player | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom Latham (C) | WK-Batter | Captain |
| 2 | Tom Blundell (WK) | Wicketkeeper-Batter | — |
| 3 | Devon Conway | WK-Batter | — |
| 4 | Kane Williamson | Top-order Batter | — |
| 5 | Henry Nicholls | Top-order Batter | — |
| 6 | Will Young | Batter | — |
| 7 | Daryl Mitchell | All-rounder | — |
| 8 | Rachin Ravindra | All-rounder | — |
| 9 | Glenn Phillips | All-rounder | — |
| 10 | Mitchell Santner | Spin All-rounder | Returns from injury |
| 11 | Nathan Smith | All-rounder | — |
| 12 | Zak Foulkes | All-rounder | — |
| 13 | Matt Henry | Fast Bowler | — |
| 14 | Kyle Jamieson | Fast Bowler | — |
| 15 | Will O’Rourke | Fast Bowler | — |
| 16 | Blair Tickner | Fast Bowler | — |
Key Players to Watch
England:
- Ben Stokes — Returns from a fractured cheekbone. His presence with bat and ball is central to England’s game plan.
- Joe Root — England’s all-time leading Test run-scorer. Masterful at home, especially at Lord’s.
- Harry Brook — One of the most destructive middle-order batters in world cricket right now.
- Gus Atkinson — Potent swing bowler who thrived in home conditions during England’s 2024 summer.
- Emilio Gay — Uncapped Durham opener to watch after standout County Championship form.
New Zealand:
- Kane Williamson — One of the finest Test batters of his generation with an excellent technique in English conditions.
- Rachin Ravindra — A growing all-round force and key figure in NZ’s middle order.
- Matt Henry — Reliable seamer who is at his most dangerous in overcast English conditions.
- Kyle Jamieson — His 6’8″ frame generates awkward bounce that troubles even the best batters in England.
- Tom Latham — Experienced captain and reliable left-hander with a strong record against England.
NZ vs ENG Head-to-Head Record (Tests)
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total Tests Played | 115 |
| England Wins | 54 |
| New Zealand Wins | 14 |
| Draws / No Result | 47 |
| Last Series in England | 2022 — England won 3–0 |
| Last NZ Win in England | 1999 |
England hold a dominant home record, winning their last seven Tests against New Zealand on English soil.
WTC Context
All three Tests count towards the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 cycle. Both sides need points to stay in contention for the WTC Final at Lord’s in 2027. Every result in this series carries direct implications for both teams’ rankings.
New Zealand Tour of England 2026 Live Streaming & Broadcast
| Platform | Region | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Sky Sports Cricket | United Kingdom | Official TV broadcaster |
| Sky Sports App | United Kingdom | Live streaming |
| Sony Sports Network | India | Official TV broadcaster |
| Sony LIV | India | Live streaming |
| Sky Sport NZ | New Zealand | Official NZ broadcaster |
New Zealand Tour of England 2026 Tickets
Days 1–3 of all three Tests are sold out. Limited tickets remain for Days 4 and 5 at all venues. Book via the official ECB website at ecb.co.uk/tickets.
FAQs
4 June 2026, 1st Test at Lord’s — 10:00 AM GMT / 3:30 PM IST.
Three Tests across Lord’s, The Kia Oval, and Trent Bridge.
Ben Stokes leads England; Tom Latham captains New Zealand.
The Crowe-Thorpe Trophy, named in honour of Martin Crowe and Graham Thorpe.
Yes, all three Tests count in the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 cycle.
Sony Sports Network on TV and Sony LIV for live streaming.
Yes — Emilio Gay, Sonny Baker, and James Rew all earn their first Test call-ups.
