England are set to host New Zealand for a three-match Test series which will serve as the curtain raiser for the English international summer. Here are the complete squad lists for both sides, including injury and other team related updates.
Brendon McCullum’s men haven’t lost a Test series at home since his appointment at the helm and the England head coach would be wary of his compatriots as New Zealand are coming into the crucial series on the back of a dominant Test win against Ireland last week at Stormont.
The Black Caps are also the last away team to win a Test series in England, having won 1-0 back in 2021.
When and where will the ENG vs NZ 2026 Tests be played?
1st Test: Lord’s, London - June 4-8
2nd Test: The Oval, London - June 17-21
3rd Test: Trent Bridge, Nottingham - June 25-29.
ENG vs NZ 2026 Tests: Full squad lists
England: Ben Stokes (c), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, James Rew, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue.
New Zealand: Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Devon Conway, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O'Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Kane Williamson, Will Young.
England vs New Zealand 2026 Tests: Team news
This is England’s first Test assignment since their Ashes thrashing where Ben Stokes and his men were outplayed by Australia. Top-order batters Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope have been dropped and have made way for the likes of Emilio Gay and James Rew, who could make their respective debuts at Lord’s.
While Byrdon Carse is still nursing his injury which ruled him out of IPL 2026, Jofra Archer has been rested from the first Test after six long months on the road in Australia and India, competing in the gruelling Ashes followed by the T20 World Cup and the recently-concluded IPL season.
Ollie Robinson is the beneficiary as the seam bowler returns to the fold while Sonny Baker has also earned his maiden call-up to the Test squad after enduring tough debuts in ODIs and T20Is.
Rehan Ahmed is another name that features on the 15-member list for the first Test as Will Jacks has made way for the Leicestershire spin-bowling all-rounder.
After warming the bench for the most part of the IPL season, Glenn Phillips returns to the Test setup for New Zealand after missing the West Indies series due to a groin injury. Mitchell Santner missed the latter half of the IPL season due to a shoulder injury, but the Black Caps’ white-ball skipper has managed to return to full fitness ahead of the first Test against England.
Fast bowler Ben Sears and all-rounder Dean Foxcroft travelled to England as reserves, and while Sears continues to be a part of the travelling contingent, Foxcroft has returned home after Santner’s successful return from injury.
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