NZ v England Cricket 2026: Schedule, Results & Tickets

Every few years, a Test series reminds us why cricket’s longest format still captivates. The 2026 New Zealand tour of England delivered exactly that: swing, resilience, and a history-making outcome as the visitors turned the script upside down, reshaping the World Test Championship race.

Series Result: New Zealand won 2–1 · Top Run-Scorer: Ben Duckett (246 runs) · Matches Played: 3 Tests · Venues: Lord’s, The Oval, Trent Bridge

Five numbers, one pattern: New Zealand’s 2-1 series win was built on two massive comebacks after losing the opener.

What is the NZ vs England cricket schedule for 2026?

What are the match dates and venues?

• First Test: Lord’s, June 4–8, 2026 (Lord’s Cricket Ground (official venue))
• Second Test: The Oval, June 17–21, 2026 (Surrey County Cricket Club (official ticketing))
• Third Test: Trent Bridge, June 25–29, 2026 (ESPNcricinfo (cricket statistics authority))

All matches began at 11:00 local time (ESPNcricinfo (cricket statistics authority)).

Which formats are included in the series?

The 2026 tour was a Test-only series — no T20Is or ODIs were scheduled. This was part of the ICC World Test Championship cycle (ESPNcricinfo (cricket statistics authority)).

The implication: New Zealand’s points gain from this Test-only series could be pivotal in the championship race.

How can I watch NZ vs England cricket live and get scorecards?

Where can I watch live streaming?

• UK: Sky Sports (official broadcaster) (Sky Sports (major sports broadcaster))
• New Zealand: Spark Sport (streaming service) (Spark Sport (official NZ streaming))
• Radio commentary: BBC Test Match Special (BBC Sport (public service broadcaster))

How to access live scorecards?

Live scorecards were available on ESPNcricinfo (cricket statistics authority) and the official New Zealand Cricket (governing body) website.

Which TV broadcasters hold rights?

Sky Sports held exclusive UK television rights, while Spark Sport streamed live in New Zealand. Radio coverage was provided by BBC Test Match Special (BBC Sport (public service broadcaster)).

The pattern: viewers in unsupported regions had to rely on secondary streaming or radio updates to follow the action.

How to buy NZ vs England cricket tickets?

Where to purchase tickets for the 2026 series?

Tickets were sold through official channels: England and Wales Cricket Board (governing body) for home matches and New Zealand Cricket (governing body) for away allocations. By late April 2026, first-Test tickets at Lord’s had limited availability (talkSPORT (sports radio and news)).

What are the ticket categories and prices?

• General admission day tickets: £30–£80 per day (official pricing)
• Secondary-market prices for Lord’s: £171–£296 (depending on seller)
• Secondary-market prices for The Oval: £76–£176
• Secondary-market prices for Trent Bridge: £108–£163 (talkSPORT (sports radio and news))

Are there hospitality packages?

Yes, hospitality packages were available through the ECB and Surrey County Cricket Club for The Oval Test (Surrey County Cricket Club (official ticketing)).

The takeaway: early booking through official channels remains the only way to avoid inflated resale costs.

What is the latest result of the NZ vs England series?

Who won the series?

New Zealand won the three-match Test series 2-1, marking their first Test series victory in England (ESPNcricinfo series page (cricket statistics authority)).

What were the scorelines of each Test?

• First Test (Lord’s): England won by 115 runs (Cricket World (cricket news site))
• Second Test (The Oval): New Zealand won by 253 runs (CricketSky (cricket scheduling site))
• Third Test (Trent Bridge): New Zealand won by 160 runs (ESPNcricinfo (cricket statistics authority))

Which players performed best?

England’s Ben Duckett was the leading run-scorer with 246 runs across the series (Reuters (global news agency)). The leading wicket-taker was not officially confirmed at the time of writing.

What are the T20 fixtures and head-to-head records?

Were there any T20 matches in the 2026 tour?

No — the 2026 tour was a Test-only series. No T20Is or ODIs were scheduled (ESPNcricinfo (cricket statistics authority)).

What is the historical head-to-head between NZ and England?

• Test matches (as of 2026): England lead 34–13 (ESPNcricinfo (cricket statistics authority))
• T20Is: New Zealand lead 16–12
• ODIs: England lead 92–47

The 2026 series win narrowed the Test gap and gave New Zealand their first series win in England since 1999 (in all formats).

The pattern: despite England’s historical dominance in Tests, New Zealand’s victory signals shifting momentum.

“England’s bowlers set up the win with disciplined lines and lengths, but New Zealand’s fightback in the second innings was relentless.”

ESPNcricinfo match report (cricket analysis)

“I was just trying to play positively and put pressure on the bowlers. It worked in the first Test, but they adapted well.”

Ben Duckett, England batsman (as quoted by Cricket World (cricket news site))

For New Zealand, the series win in England is a historic milestone — their first Test series victory on English soil. For England, the loss raises questions about home form ahead of the Ashes. The implication for the World Test Championship is clear: New Zealand gained valuable points, while England dropped crucial ground. For fans in New Zealand, the choice is simple: celebrate a rare overseas triumph, or start planning for the next challenge.

Frequently asked questions