England Men and England Women will host five international teams across all formats in a busy 2026. This summer will be very special for women’s cricket, as England Women will host the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup at home from 12 June to 5 July. This will bring global attention to women’s cricket.

The England Men’s team will also have an exciting summer of cricket. As the race for the ICC World Test Championship heats up, England will host New Zealand and Pakistan for three Test matches each.

England's 2026 Cricket Summer: Full of Action Across Formats

The first men's Test against Pakistan at Headingley in August will be the only Test played north of Nottingham. England's men will begin their summer on 4 June at Lord's with the first of three Tests against New Zealand.

In July, they will play five T20s and three one-day internationals (ODIs) against India, followed by a three-Test series against Pakistan. After that, they will play T20s and ODIs against Sri Lanka in September.

Also Read -Glenn Maxwell reveals Australia's batting line-up ahead of T20 World Cup 2026

Schedule Adjustments and Key Highlights

The second and third men’s Tests and the first two India T20s will overlap with the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, which will be held in England. To avoid a clash with the men’s Test series starting on 19 August, The Hundred has been moved a week earlier from its 2025 schedule.

The last Test of the summer will be held at Edgbaston from 9 September. Meanwhile, The Kia Oval will host the final white-ball match of the summer, instead of its usual role of hosting the final Test.

It has also been confirmed that the England Lions will play a three-day warm-up match against the senior England men’s team before the first Ashes Test in Perth. The Lions will then stay in Australia to play a Cricket Australia XI during the first Ashes Test and face Australia A in Brisbane during the second Test.

Yorkshire chief executive Sanjay Patel has questioned the decision not to host any Ashes Tests in the north in 2027. However, Emirates Old Trafford is set to host a Test in early 2027 before the Ashes series begins.

ECB CEO Richard Gould said, “We’re really excited to unveil what promises to be a spectacular summer of international cricket in 2026. With world-class opposition visiting iconic venues across the country, fans will have the chance to witness the very best of the men’s and women’s game.”

2026 Summer Test fixtures are HERE! 🏏

A seven Test match summer! 😍

Full Test fixtures! 👇

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 28, 2025

England Men’s Test Fixtures for Summer 2026

Against New Zealand:

• 1st Test – 4 to 8 June, Lord’s, London
• 2nd Test – 17 to 21 June, The Oval, London
• 3rd Test – 25 to 29 June, Trent Bridge, Nottingham

Against Pakistan:

• 1st Test – 19 to 23 July, Headingley, Leeds
• 2nd Test – 27 to 31 August, Lord’s, London
• 3rd Test – 9 to 13 September, Edgbaston, Birmingham

England Women’s Test Fixture:

One-off Test – 10 to 13 July, Lord’s, London

The rarest of rare World Cup final cricket history ever witnessed—England vs. New Zealand, ODI World Cup Final, 2019, Lord’s. Both teams played out of their skins; none of the sides deserved to lose, so the match ended in a draw after the 50th over of the second innings. The same in the Super Over—both teams scored 15 runs. Among the two, one had to lose, and it turned out to be New Zealand.

The way England was announced as the champion of the 2019 ODI World Cup made many cricket fraternities unhappy. Eoin Morgan led England to lift the trophy because they hit more boundaries in the final match than New Zealand. The decision came with a shocker. By then, New Zealand and England, both teams without a World Cup title between them in 44 years of the men's competition. So, automatically, expectations touched the roof regarding the match.

Kane Williamson, with his blazing form, got the man of the tournament award as he scored a total of 578 runs in the championship run. But, in the grand finale, it was Ben Stokes who stole the show that day. England was in huge trouble while the home team was chasing a target of 242. Lockie Ferguson and James Neesham with the ball were top of the game for the Blackcaps, clinching 3 wickets each.

Read More: [WATCH] ENG vs IND 2025: Mohammed Siraj intense celebration on Ben Duckett's face after taking his wicket at Lord's

A twist to break New Zealand's dream at Lord's

Stokes remained on the pitch rock solid and scored an unbeaten 84 off 98 deliveries. The 5^th wicket stand of Stokes and JC Buttler was crucial for England, adding 100 runs in 121 balls. Super Over applied in the contest, with both teams being limited to 241 runs on the scoreboard.

The major twist was yet to come. England and New Zealand concluded their innings for 15 runs each. But New Zealand finished the campaign as the second best of the tournament, and Team England took the center stage with the shiny World Cup.

South African-born Kiwi batter Devon Conway is all set to be excluded from the third Test between New Zealand and England scheduled to take place in Hamilton on 14 December. The opener will stay in Wellington where his side suffered a brutal 323-run drubbing in the second Test and will remain with his family to see the birth of his newborn child. 

See also: Adelaide Test, Day 3: Australia bounce back in the series with 10-wicket win

Mark Chapman comes in as his replacement

Ahead of the third and final Test, New Zealand have roped in Auckland Aces batter Mark Chapman. The 30-year-old holds a healthy batting average of 46.14 in FC cricket with seven centuries under his belt. Champan is yet to make an appearance for New Zealand in the longest format.

New Zealand coach Gary Stead was in full support of Conway and expects him to make the most of his quality time with his family on this auspicious occasion. Moreover, he also heaped praise on Champan who has been in the midst of a remarkable run in the ongoing Plunket Shield tournament. 

"Family comes first in this environment and we're all really excited for Dev and his wife Kim to welcome their first child. Mark was with the Test squad in India recently and returned to the Plunket Shield by scoring an impressive 276 - so it's a good time for him to be joining us."

An opportunity for Will Young to return to the fore

It came as a surprise to many when the New Zealand squad was announced prior to the Test series. The omission of Young who averaged nearly 49 and was adjudged Player of the Series in New Zealand's historic Test series win over India raised quite a few eyebrows.

Unfortunately, he had to make way for Williamson who fully regained his fitness right before the start of the home Test series. He made a resounding impact upon his return becoming the leading run scorer for his side with 195 runs to his name at an average of 48.75. New Zealand have already surrendered to England in this series by a margin of 0-2. The Black Caps will have one last chance to salvage their lost pride in the upcoming Hamilton Test which is expected to commence later this week. 

Runs galore in the first Test at Christchurch as England dominated the Black Caps and registered a thumping victory on the back of a breathtaking knock from Harry Brook. Brook's counter-attacking 171 set the foundation for an emphatic eight-wicket win in the second innings as England managed to chase down 104 in just under 15 overs.

After playing that match-winning innings, the 25-year-old Englishman has moved up by two spots to no.2 position in the ICC Test Batting rankings. And by doing so, the dazzling top-order English batsman has bridged the gap between him and Joe Root who is currently at the top of the table with a rating of 895. Moreover, after bettering his rating to 854, the difference between him and Root is now down to just 41.

See also: New Zealand receive another huge blow in WTC points table

Yashasvi Jaiswal loses his no.2 position to Harry Brook

Brook has emerged as someone who can go close to challenging Joe Root's dominance at the top. Jaiswal's heroics at Perth in the second innings (161) propelled the dashing opener to the second position. However, the considerable gap between the first and the second Test opened a window of opportunity for Brook to make some rapid gains.

Following Brook's blistering batting show in Hagley Oval, Jaiswal was displaced from the no.2 position and slipped two more spots down the rankings at no.4. The start Kiwi batter Kane Williamson managed to hold on to the third position by scoring an impressive 93 & 61 upon his comeback. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Gains for the other batters

Apart from the ongoing BGT 2024-25 & England-New Zealand Test series, the recently concluded first Test between South Africa and Sri Lanka in Durban also produced some extraordinary batting performances. 

The Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma led his side from the front by playing a gutsy innings of 70 on a difficult seaming wicket followed by a sensational ton in the second innings which virtually decided the match in his side's favor. On the back of that performance, Bavuma managed to break into the top 10 of the ICC Men's Test batting rankings.

Tristan Stubbs' brilliant 122 in the second innings catapulted him by 29 spots to no.42 position in the batting table. On the other hand, Dinesh Chandimal of Sri Lanka rose by two places to the 17th spot as a result of his resilient second-innings 83.

On July 14, 2019, cricket fans around the globe witnessed one of the most dramatic and unforgettable World Cup finals ever played. England clinched their first 50-over World Cup victory at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, defeating New Zealand in a nail-biting finish that ended in a super over. However, the highlight of the day, and the subject of much debate since, was the controversial ‘boundary count’ rule that ultimately decided the outcome.

Background of the 2019 ODI World Cup

Following a disappointing exit in the 2015 World Cup, England’s cricket team underwent a significant transformation under the leadership of Eoin Morgan. They revamped their approach to white-ball cricket, focusing on aggressive batting and versatile bowling. By the time the 2019 World Cup arrived, England were considered a favorite. Despite setbacks in the group stages with losses to Pakistan and Australia, they rebounded strongly to secure a place in the semi-finals and subsequently the final.

See Also: On this day: India’s first One Day International at Leeds fifty years ago

New Zealand, known for their consistent performances in ICC tournaments, entered the 2019 World Cup with high hopes. Led by the calm and collected Kane Williamson, the Kiwis showcased their resilience and tactical prowess throughout the tournament. They reached the final after a thrilling semi-final victory against India, setting the stage for a memorable showdown at Lord’s.

The Final Match: England vs. New Zealand

The atmosphere at Lord’s on July 14, 2019, was electric. Cricket fans from around the world gathered to witness what promised to be a thrilling contest between two deserving teams.

New Zealand’s innings

Batting first, New Zealand posted a total of 241/8 in their 50 overs. Contributions from Henry Nicholls and Tom Latham were vital, but it was a collective effort from the team that set a competitive target.

New Zealand faced disciplined bowling from England, with Chris Woakes and Liam Plunkett making key breakthroughs. Despite the challenges, the Kiwis managed to put up a fighting total, setting the stage for a thrilling chase.

England’s Innings

Chasing a target of 242, England faced early setbacks. The loss of key wickets put them in a precarious position, and at 86/4, their World Cup dreams seemed to be slipping away. However, the resilience of Ben Stokes and the steady hand of Jos Buttler kept them in the game.

The partnership between Stokes and Buttler was crucial. They not only stabilized the innings but also kept the required run rate in check. Their combined efforts brought England within reach of the target, setting up a dramatic final over.

The dramatic final over

In the final over of the match, England needed 15 runs to win. The tension was palpable. Ben Stokes played a pivotal role, but it was a controversial moment when a throw from New Zealand’s Martin Guptill deflected off Stokes’ bat and went to the boundary, adding six crucial runs to England’s total. This moment turned the tide, leading to a tie and forcing the match into a super over.

The controversial boundary count rule

The boundary count rule, which was in place during the 2019 World Cup, stated that in the event of a tie in the super over, the team with the higher number of boundaries throughout the match would be declared the winner. This rule, relatively unknown to many fans, became the focal point of the controversy.

Both teams ended the super over with identical scores. However, England were declared the winner based on their superior boundary count (26 boundaries to New Zealand’s 17). This decision, while within the rules, sparked widespread debate and criticism.

In response to the widespread criticism, the International Cricket Council (ICC) decided to scrap the boundary count rule for future tournaments. The new rules ensured that tied matches in knockout stages would be resolved by repeated super overs until a clear winner emerged.

Ben Stokes: The hero of final

Ben Stokes’ performance in the final was nothing short of heroic. His unbeaten 84 in the regular innings and his crucial role in the super over cemented his place as one of England’s greatest cricketers.

Stokes’ journey from controversy to redemption added to the narrative. His resilience and determination were key factors in England’s victory, and his actions on that day are remembered as legendary.

The cricketing world was left stunned when recently retired elite panel umpire Marais Erasmus admitted to a significant mistake made during the controversial 2019 ODI World Cup final between England and New Zealand at Lord’s. Erasmus’s revelation sheds light on the intricacies of umpiring in high-stakes matches and reignites debates surrounding the role of officials in determining match outcomes.

2019 ODI WC Final Controversy

The 2019 ODI World Cup final will forever be etched in cricketing history for its dramatic conclusion and contentious moments. England emerged victorious over New Zealand in a thrilling encounter that culminated in a Super Over, eventually won by the hosts on the basis of a boundary countback rule. This decision sparked debates and divided opinions among fans and experts alike.

See Also: Will CLT20 return? Big update from BCCI, ECB and CA

Crucial Umpiring Error

Amidst the excitement and tension of the final moments, Erasmus and his colleague Kumar Dharmasena made a crucial umpiring error that had a profound impact on the outcome of the match. In the 50th over of England’s innings, the umpires awarded six runs to the hosts for an overthrow despite the batters not completing the second run. This error proved to be pivotal as it significantly altered the equation in the closing stages of the match.

Erasmus’s Admission of Mistake

In a candid confession, Erasmus revealed that he and Dharmasena only realized the error the morning after the final, highlighting the pressure and intensity of the moment on the field. Despite their best intentions, the umpires failed to correctly assess the situation, leading to a misinterpretation of the rules and a consequential error in judgment.

“The next morning (after the final) I opened my hotel room door on my way to breakfast and Kumar opened his door at the same time and he said, ‘did you see we made a massive error?’ That’s when I got to know about it.  “But in the moment on the field, we just said six, you know, communicated to each other, ‘six, six, it’s six’ not realising that they haven’t crossed, it wasn’t picked up. That’s it,” Erasmus told ‘The Telegraph’.

Impact on the Final Result

The umpiring error in the final over of the match proved to be decisive, as it contributed to England’s eventual victory via the boundary countback rule. The misallocation of runs added an unnecessary layer of controversy to an already tense situation, leaving New Zealand and their supporters disillusioned and aggrieved by the outcome.

“It was just too high but they had burnt their review. That was my only error in the whole seven weeks and afterwards I was so disappointed because it would have been an absolute flip had I got through the whole World Cup not making an error and that obviously impacted the game a bit because he was one of their top players,” added the South African.

Reflections on Erasmus’s Umpiring Career

Erasmus’s admission of the mistake in the 2019 ODI World Cup final brings to light the challenges and pressures faced by umpires at the highest level of the game. Despite his illustrious career officiating in numerous international matches, Erasmus acknowledges the fallibility of umpires and the impact of errors on the outcome of matches.

Erasmus’s reflections on his umpiring career offer insights into the dynamics between officials and players from various cricketing nations. While New Zealand is praised for their respectful demeanour towards umpires, players like Ricky Ponting and Mahela Jayawardene are noted for their attempts to intimidate officials, underscoring the complexities of on-field interactions. 

The World Cup is underway as last editions finalists take each other on with an air of familiarity and difference. The last four years have seen ODIs get fewer in number and teams change their approaches. England and New Zealand though both look similar from before barring injuries which keep Kane WIlliamson and probably Tim Southee out of the side, England though, has a familiar team that has grown in experience.

ENG vs NZ Match Details

Date: October 5th, 2023

Time:  2:00 PM IST

Venue: Ahmedabad

ENG vs NZ Weather Report

The weather looks pretty clear for the upcoming fixture.

ENG vs NZ Pitch Report

A smaller ground and flat track makes batting look easy and will keep the batters happy as runs are likely to come fast and quick. The initial stage may be a little tight though with some early movement but overall the pitch could suit sides batting second.

ENG vs NZ Head-to-Head

Played- 91 | England- 43 | New Zealand- 41 | NR- 4 | Tie- 3

ENG vs NZ Predicted Playing XI

ENG Playing XI

Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Butler, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid

NZ Playing XI

Devon Conway, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult

ENG vs NZ Key Players

Daryl Mitchell

In Kane Williamson’s absence Daryl Mitchell has become New Zealand’s most important batter along with Conway. He will get the number three spot and his record against England makes him a really crucial player with New Zealand missing a some crucial players.

Joe Root

Joe Root has not played much one day cricket coming into the tournament and when he did he did not look to impressive. He is their best player of spin though and knows the Indian conditions nicely which will make him a very important player.

ENG vs NZ Match Tips

England and New Zealand are two sides full of experience. One side is highly reliant on aggressive cricket and the other focuses on using some quality bowling to restrict oppositions. New Zealand though are not sure if Tim Southee can make the first game while Kane Williamson is already ruled out of the opener. With two key players missing England will be backing themselves all the more

Match Prediction: England Will Win the Match

ENG vs NZ Match Preview

The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will host the 2023 Cricket World Cup on Thursday at 14:00 local time. The venue, with a capacity of 132,000, is an appropriate setting for the start of this competition, and Match 1 features the two finalists from the 2019 tournament. England is the current World Cup and T20 World Cup champion, and they have one of the best batting lineups in the tournament. They anticipate a difficult match but are confident of defeating New Zealand. New Zealand has once again brought a strong squad to a World Cup, but they have struggled in recent years against England in this format. We expect them to be competitive, but they will need to perform at their peak in order to win.

ENG vs NZ Match Details

England vs New Zealand – 1st Match

Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium – Ahmedabad

Date & Time: 05th October 2023 at 02:00 PM IST 

Live Streaming: Disney+Hotstar App

ENG vs NZ Venue StatENG

ENG vs NZ Pitch Report

The pitch at Narendra Modi Stadium provides a good contest between bat and ball, and a par score of 320 is not expected. For quick and spin bowlers, there will be movement off the surface.

ENG vs NZ Weather Report

This match in Ahmedabad will not be hampered by rain. The temperature will peak at 33 degrees but will not fall below 26 degrees by the end of the game, according to the forecast.

ENG vs NZ Last Five Matches

ENG vs NZ Head-to-Head Stats

Injury News

No Injury. Will be added when there is an update.

ENG vs NZ Probable Playing XIs:

England Probable Playing XIs

Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (wk) (c), Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley

New Zealand Probable Playing XIs

Will Young, Devon Conway, Tom Latham (c) (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, James Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Trent Boult, Matt Henry

Topmost Picks for ENG vs NZ Dream11 Prediction:

Top Picks – England

• Jonny Bairstow – The 34 year old right-handed opener has scored 23 international centuries with 11 coming in this format. He always scores his runs at a strong strike-rate
• Mark Wood – Mark Wood is all about lethal pace and this player can rip apart any batting line-up on his good day. Mark Wood has picked 71 wickets in 59 ODI matches out of which 5 wickets came in 2 matches in India.

Top Picks – New Zealand

• Devon Conway – The left-handed opener has taken brilliantly to international cricket over the last couple of years. He also impressed in India during the 2023 IPL for Chennai Super Kings.
• Mitchell Santner – Another Kiwi player with a good experience of turning the ball well on the Indian pitches and he also comes as a handy batsman who can score some crucial runs for the team.

Suggested Playing XI N0.1 for ENG vs NZ Dream11 Team:

Jos Buttler, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson(VC), Daryl Mitchell, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes(C), Joe Root, Liam Livingstone, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Trent Boult

Suggested Playing XI N0.2 for ENG vs NZ Dream11 Team:

Jos Buttler(C), Devon Conway(VC), Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Dawid Malan, Mitchell Santner, Ben Stokes, Liam Livingstone, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Trent Boult

Captain and Vice-Captain Options:

Captain – Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes

Vice-captain – Devon Conway, Kane Williamson

Wicketkeeper – Devon Conway

ENG vs NZ Probable Winners:

It has been more than four years since the 2019 Cricket World Cup Final, and fans all over the world are looking forward to the start of this tournament. Neither team is considered the favorite to win the competition, though England is expected to go far. We expect New Zealand to pose problems for England, particularly when Trent Boult bowls, but we believe England’s batting will be too strong. We expect England to win on Thursday. Considering the team combination, New Zealand is expected to win this match.

Ben Stokes proves once again why he is a superhero in Cricket. He was the sole reason behind a big routing for New Zealand with a commanding 182. Dawid Malan was pretty supportive too and has all but sealed his spot for the World Cup with a pretty solid performance in the top order for England.

ENG vs NZ Match Details

Date: September 15th, 2023

Time:  5:00 PM IST

Venue: Lords

ENG vs NZ Weather Report

The weather looks pretty clear for the upcoming fixture.

ENG vs NZ Pitch Report

Dew and a flat track make bowling a better option.

ENG vs NZ Head-to-Head

Played- 92 | England- 42 | New Zealand- 43 | NR- 4 | Tie- 3

ENG vs NZ Predicted Playing XI

ENG Playing XI

Jonny Bairstow, Jason Roy, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, David Willey, Reece Topley, Gus Atkinson

NZ Playing XI

Devon Conway, Finn Allen, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Trent Boult

ENG vs NZ Key Players

Harry Brook

Harry Brook, touted as a generational talent is likely to miss out on the World Cup having been left out of the squad so England could accommodate Ben Stokes. He still has an outside chance of making it but will have to perform out of his skin to prove that he can be apart of the squad.

Daryl Mitchell

Mitchell loves playing in England and is one of the most consistent batters going around in the New Zealand line-up. His performances matter all the more with Williamson uncertain for the World Cup, leaving New Zealand in a desperate situation with their battign line-up.

ENG vs NZ Match Tips

Looking at the depth in England’s squad and their coverage, England look very tough to get past.

Match Prediction: England Will Win the Match

Both sides are fighting well and England will be pleased to see how their lower-middle order has done after the top-order failed.

ENG vs NZ Match Details

Date: September 13th, 2023

Time:  5:00 PM IST

Venue: The Oval

ENG vs NZ Weather Report

The weather looks pretty clear for the upcoming fixture.

ENG vs NZ Pitch Report

Dew and a flat track make bowling a better option.

ENG vs NZ Head-to-Head

Played- 91 | England- 41 | New Zealand- 43 | NR- 4 | Tie- 3

ENG vs NZ Predicted Playing XI

ENG Playing XI

Jonny Bairstow, Jason Roy, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, David Willey, Reece Topley, Gus Atkinson

NZ Playing XI

Devon Conway, Finn Allen, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Trent Boult

ENG vs NZ Key Players

Harry Brook

Harry Brook, touted as a generational talent is likely to miss out on the World Cup having been left out of the squad so England could accommodate Ben Stokes. He still has an outside chance of making it but will have to perform out of his skin to prove that he can be apart of the squad.

Daryl Mitchell

Mitchell loves playing in England and is one of the most consistent batters going around in the New Zealand line-up. His performances matter all the more with Williamson uncertain for the World Cup, leaving New Zealand in a desperate situation with their battign line-up.

ENG vs NZ Match Tips

Looking at the depth in England’s squad and their coverage, England look very tough to get past.

Match Prediction: England Will Win the Match