New Zealand Preview
Led by Mitchell Santner, New Zealand aim to bounce back after a 2-0 series loss to Australia. Standout batters Tim Seifert and Tim Robinson have provided quickfire starts, while Daryl Mitchell offers stability in the middle order.
On the bowling front, pace duo Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy have been consistent wicket-takers, supported by Santner’s spin and all-round contributions. The Kiwis will hope to leverage home advantage and start the series positively.
Probable XI: Tim Robinson, Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert (wk), Bevon Jacobs, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, Kyle Jamieson
England Preview
Under Harry Brook, England will look to fine-tune their combinations ahead of the Ashes and the T20 World Cup. The batting lineup features explosive talents like Phil Salt and Jos Buttler, while Brook, Jacob Bethell, and Jordan Cox strengthen the middle order.
Their bowling attack includes pacers Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse, swing specialist Luke Wood, and leg-spinner Adil Rashid. England will aim to continue their dominance over New Zealand in recent encounters.
Confirmed XI: Jos Buttler (wk), Phil Salt, Harry Brook (c), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Jordan Cox, Brydon Carse, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Luke Wood, Adil Rashid
Head-to-Head Overview
New Zealand and England have met 27 times in T20Is. England lead with 15 wins, while New Zealand have 10 victories, alongside one tie and one no result.
Hagley Oval Pitch Report
Hagley Oval offers a balanced surface for both batters and bowlers. Pacers get early assistance, while the pitch plays true for batters as the innings progresses. Historically, chasing sides have won 8 of 12 T20Is here, making it likely that captains may prefer to field first.
Top Performers in NZ vs ENG T20Is
Batting:
- Jos Buttler: 331 runs in 15 matches, avg. 41.37, SR 155.3, 2 fifties
- Tim Seifert: 226 runs in 11 matches, SR 136.96
- Daryl Mitchell: 141 runs in 9 innings, HS 72*
Bowling:
- Mitchell Santner: 22 wickets in 15 matches, avg. 18.50, best 3/23
- Adil Rashid: 11 wickets in 13 matches, avg. 38.27
- Sam Curran: 9 wickets in 9 matches
NZ Key Stats
- 10 T20Is at Hagley Oval: 6 wins, 4 losses
- Tim Seifert: 497 runs in 13 T20Is in 2025, avg. 49.70, SR 165.66
- Tim Robinson: 259 runs in 7 T20Is in 2025, avg. 86.33, SR 145.50
- Jacob Duffy: 23 wickets in 13 T20Is in 2025, economy 7.11
ENG Key Stats
- 1 T20I at Hagley Oval: 1 win
- Jos Buttler: 447 runs in 12 T20Is in 2025, SR 169.31
- Phil Salt: 346 runs in 9 T20Is, avg. 43.25, SR 185.02
- Adil Rashid: 15 wickets in 12 T20Is, economy 8.83
Records That Can Be Broken in 1st T20I
Harry Brook: 86 runs to reach 1,000 T20I runs
James Neesham: 20 runs to reach 1,000 T20I runs
Michael Bracewell: 85 runs to reach 500 T20I runs
Jos Buttler: 3 fours to reach 350 T20I fours
Phil Salt: 58 runs to reach 1,500 T20I runs; 7 fours to reach 150 T20I fours
