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The highly anticipated three-Match Test series between England and New Zealand kicks off today at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. Spanning from June 4 to June 29, this series promises to be a thrilling World Test Championship clash as both teams look to solidify their standings. Hosts England, led by a returning Ben Stokes, are desperate to bounce back on home soil following a tough 4-1 series defeat against Australia earlier this year. Looking for a fresh spark, the English selectors have named an intriguing 12-man squad for the opener, including uncapped prodigies Emilio Gay and Sonny Baker, while also recalling seasoned seamer Ollie Robinson.
Conversely, the visiting Black Caps arrive with plenty of momentum, currently sitting comfortably at the higher end of the WTC table. Fresh off a commanding innings victory against Ireland, Tom Latham’s men boast a formidable and settled unit featuring superstars like Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, and Rachin Ravindra. Though New Zealand’s pace battery faces minor injury concerns with Matt Henry recovering from a strain, the squad is well-equipped with dynamic depth. As the action moves from Lord’s to The Oval and Trent Bridge, expect an intense battle between England’s aggressive intent and New Zealand’s gritty resilience.
New Zealand tour of England 2026: Test Fixtures
| Match | Date | Venue | Time (IST / GMT / Local) |
| 1st Test | Thursday, June 4, 2026 | Lord’s, London | 3:30 PM IST / 10:00 AM GMT / 11:00 AM Local |
| 2nd Test | Wednesday, June 17, 2026 | Kennington Oval, London | 3:30 PM IST / 10:00 AM GMT / 11:00 AM Local |
| 3rd Test | Thursday, June 25, 2026 | Trent Bridge, Nottingham | 3:30 PM IST / 10:00 AM GMT / 11:00 AM Local |
Squads
England: Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wk), Ben Stokes (c), Shoaib Bashir, Josh Tongue, Ollie Robinson, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker
New Zealand: Tom Latham (c), Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Dean Foxcroft, Nathan Smith, Zakary Foulkes, Blair Tickner, William ORourke, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry
Also READ: England vs New Zealand 2026: London Weather Forecast and Lord’s Pitch Report for first Test
Broadcast and Live Streaming Details
- UK & Ireland: Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Go, NOW
- New Zealand: Sky Sport NZ, Sky Sport Now
- India: Sony Sports Network, Sony LIV
- Pakistan: PTV Sports, Tapmad
- USA & Canada: Willow TV [Sign up here]
- Australia: Fox Cricket, Kayo Sports
- South Africa: SuperSport
- Caribbean: ESPN Caribbean
- Middle East & North Africa: CricLife
Also READ: Ollie Robinson returns as England reveal 12-man squad for 1st Test against New Zealand
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: crickettimes.com
