Black Caps v England: All you need to know ahead of the first test at Lord’s
All you need to know about the first test in the three-match series between New Zealand and England.
First test, Lord’s. Starting 10pm.
The Black Caps have played England 115 times in tests since 1930, the first test being in Christchurch in 1930, easily the most against any opponent.
Against England in England, the Black Caps have played 59 tests with just six victories – the last being in 2021. The series begins at Lord’s but New Zealand haven’t won at the Home of Cricket since 1999 – having lost four of their last six.
Their most recent tour in 2022 saw England win all three tests. But they are coming up against an English side and coach Brendon McCullum facing a lot of pressure following an Ashes hiding over the summer.
The hosts haven’t played a test since losing the series 4-1 in Australia and currently sit seventh on the World Test Championship standings.
The Black Caps are in second on the table but have only played three tests in the current cycle - the 2-0 series win over the West Indies in December. However, New Zealand have a busy schedule ahead this year and into next year, with two tests against India, a four-test series in Australia followed by two more tests at home against Sri Lanka.
What time is New Zealand v England?
The first ball will be bowled at 10pm on Thursday.
Hours of play (NZT) will be 10pm start, lunch midnight-12.40am, tea 2.40am-3am, close 5am.
Test series schedule
First test, Lord’s, June 4-8
Second test, The Oval, June 17-21
Third test, Nottingham, June 25-29
Previous test form
New Zealand: W, W, W, D, W
England: L, W, L, L, L
(Most recent first)
New Zealand v England – last five test results
December 2024, Hamilton – Black Caps won by 423 runs
December 2024, Wellington – England won by 323 runs
November 2024, Christchurch – England won by eight wickets
February 2023, Wellington – Black Caps won by one run
February 2023, Mount Maunganui – England won by 267 runs
New Zealand side to face England
Tom Latham (capt), Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Glenn Phillips/Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Will O’Rourke (to be confirmed at the toss).
England side to face New Zealand
Ben Stokes (capt), Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue (one to be omitted at the toss).
TAB odds
New Zealand $3.10
England $1.92
Draw $4.25
The Black Caps haven’t drawn a test against England since 2021 at Lord’s, a run of nine straight tests with a winner.
Weather forecast for the first test
There’s been rain in the lead up to series opener, with thundery showers on the night before the day one so expect a bowl first captain’s call at the toss. Rain is predicted across day one and again on days three and four.
Ones to watch
Rachin Ravindra
Making his maiden test appearance at Lord’s, Ravindra is coming off scoring his sixth test century in the one-off test against Ireland – taking his test average to 49.9. But in three tests against England, he averages just 21.55 with a high score of 44. Will be intriguing how he goes against the swinging Duke ball.
Kyle Jamieson
The return to fitness of the 2021 World Test Championship (WTC) player-of-the-match promises a wealth of bounce and carry from his 2.03m frame. The 31-year-old’s record from four fixtures in England – including the WTC final against India – boasts 16 wickets at 21.18.
Emilio Gay
Gay will make his debut at the top of the England order, possibly facing a four-pronged pace attack in the opening session on day one. The left-hander has 13 first-class centuries to his name and averages 39.84, including two for Durham in the lead-up to this series. He changes allegiances from Italy, after having played three Twenty20s for the birth nation of his maternal grandmother.
Ollie Robinson
Five years ago, Robinson made his test debut against the Black Caps at Lord’s, which included bizarre scenes at the end of day one when he posted a video statement apologising for racist and sexist tweets that he posted years earlier as a teenager. He finished with seven wickets in the match and scored a valuable 42 in the first innings. Since then, he’s in and out of the squad, having last played a test in February 2024. But his recent form has been too good to ignore for coach Brendon McCullum.