New Zealand will play their first home Test match series of the year against England in February – here is the full NZ vs ENG schedule, including the fixture list and match timings.
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After both sides played three match Test series in Pakistan over the winter, they now face each other in a two match series in New Zealand. England beat Pakistan 3-0 in a memorable encounter before New Zealand were unable to force results on their Test match return to the country.
In the previous series between the two sides last year in England, England won 3-0 despite Daryl Mitchell’s best efforts. England will be without their main protagonist from that series, however, as Jonny Bairstow continues his recovery from a broken leg.
Stuart Broad and Matt Potts both return to England’s squad after their absence in Pakistan. Broad took time off for the birth of his first child while Potts missed out on selection. Dan Lawrence also returns for England for the first time since their series defeat in the West Indies last winter.
New Zealand will be boosted by Kyle Jamieson’s return to fitness after a back injury. He will join Neil Wagner, Matt Henry, Blair Tickner and captain Tim Southee in the seam department. It will be Southee’s first Test assignment in charge of the side on home soil after he replaced Kane Williamson at the helm.
Both sides will have to compete with the weather, however, as cyclone Gabrielle hits New Zealand in the days leading up to the first Test match at Mount Maunganui. Several of the New Zealand players were unable to travel to Tauranga as planned due to the extreme weather conditions.
After the first Test in the North of the country the teams will travel to Wellington for the second Test match which gets underway on February 24.
NZ vs Eng schedule: Full fixtures list & match timings for New Zealand v England
First Test match: New Zealand v England, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui; February 16-23, 2pm (start time)
Second Test match: New Zealand v England, Basin Reserve, Wellington; February 24-28, 11am (start time)
*all timings and dates local
