The New Zealand tour of England 2026 features a three-Test series running from June 4 to June 29, with matches at Lord’s, The Oval, and Trent Bridge.
The series forms part of the 2025–2027 ICC World Test Championship cycle, and both sides will compete for the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy. England, led by Ben Stokes, hold the trophy after their 2–1 win in New Zealand in 2024-25.
Here’s everything you need to know, broken down into stats, schedules, and squad details.
New Zealand Tour of England 2026 Schedule
Table: NZ vs ENG Test Series 2026 Full Schedule
| Match | Date | Venue | Time (Local / GMT / IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | June 4–8, 2026 | Lord’s, London | 11:00 AM Local / 10:00 AM GMT / 3:30 PM IST |
| 2nd Test | June 17–21, 2026 | The Oval, London | 11:00 AM Local / 10:00 AM GMT / 3:30 PM IST |
| 3rd Test | June 25–29, 2026 | Trent Bridge, Nottingham | 11:00 AM Local / 10:00 AM GMT / 3:30 PM IST |
Notably, this marks the first time The Oval hosts an England Test in June since the venue typically reserves June dates for the white-ball calendar.
Venues At A Glance
Three iconic English grounds host the series, each with distinct character.
Lord’s Cricket Ground, London (1st Test)
Lord’s, founded in 1814, hosts the series opener from June 4 to 8. Typically, June pitches at the “Home of Cricket” offer early swing and seam, before flattening out by Day 3. Notably, Lord’s will also host the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup final on July 5, per ICC announcement.
The Oval, Kennington (2nd Test)
The Oval hosts its first June Test since records began, from June 17 to 21. Historically, the venue favours pace early before turning into a batting paradise. Furthermore, dew is rarely a factor for these morning starts.
Trent Bridge, Nottingham (3rd Test)
Trent Bridge stages the series finale from June 25 to 29. Significantly, the Notts ground has long been a swing bowler’s haven, especially under overhead conditions. England won here against New Zealand by 5 wickets in 2022 in a famous BazBall-era run chase.
England Squad for the First Test vs New Zealand
England’s 15-man squad for the Lord’s opener reflects a youth injection alongside experienced returnees.
- Captain: Ben Stokes (Durham)
- Top-order batters: Emilio Gay*, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell
- Wicketkeeper-batters: Jamie Smith, James Rew*
- All-rounders: Stokes
- Pacers: Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker*, Matthew Fisher, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue
- Spinners: Shoaib Bashir, Rehan Ahmed
*Uncapped at Test level
Rehan Ahmed (Delhi Capitals) and Jacob Bethell (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) joined late due to IPL 2026 commitments. Meanwhile, Jofra Archer was omitted as the ECB continues to manage his red-ball workload.
New Zealand Squad for the England Tour
Tom Latham continues as Test captain on the back of NZC’s 19-member squad announcement on May 6, 2026.
- Captain: Tom Latham
- Wicketkeeper: Tom Blundell
- Top-order batters: Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Kane Williamson, Will Young (Ireland only)
- All-rounders: Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Zak Foulkes, Dean Foxcroft, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner
- Pacers: Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Will O’Rourke, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Ben Sears (travelling reserve)
Significantly, Jacob Duffy (NZ’s leading wicket-taker across formats in 2025) ruled himself out for personal reasons (birth of his first child). Additionally, Michael Bracewell prioritised white-ball cricket.
What’s at Stake for Both Sides
Beyond the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy, both teams have specific motivations driving this series.
For England
England seek redemption after a disastrous Ashes 2025-26 winter, which ended 3-1 to Australia and was described by Wisden Almanack editor Lawrence Booth as “feckless, reckless and legless”
Furthermore, Brendon McCullum is under pressure to refine the BazBall approach.
For New Zealand
The Black Caps want to climb the WTC standings while winning their first away Test series in England since 1999. Moreover, Kane Williamson’s pursuit of 10,000 Test runs adds individual stakes to a team mission.
Recent Form: How Both Teams Arrive at Lord’s
England’s red-ball record over the last 12 months reads mixed. They lost the Ashes 3-1 but won 2-1 in New Zealand in late 2024 (Harry Brook was Player of the Series). On the other hand, New Zealand played a one-off Test against Ireland in Belfast (May 27-30, 2026) as preparation. Furthermore, the Kiwis also pulled off a famous 3-0 sweep in India in late 2024.
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Conclusion: England vs New Zealand 2026 Begins on June 4
The New Zealand tour of England 2026 offers three Tests of high context, with the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy at stake and significant WTC 2025-27 points on the line.
Furthermore, with Ben Stokes returning, Kane Williamson chasing 10,000 Test runs, and Lord’s hosting the opener on June 4, this series carries genuine sub-plots.
Notably, fans in India can catch all the action exclusively on FanCode, while UK viewers tune into TNT Sports for live coverage across all three Tests.
