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England vs New Zealand, ENG vs NZ 2026, Today Match Prediction
ENG vs NZ Win Probability
Toss Winner - England won the toss and choose to bowl first
New Zealand beat England by 253 runs
Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have been dropped for this Test after a nightclub incident following the victory in the first match.
- Batting maestro Joe Root anchors the host nation's deep lineup, compiling 865 runs at an average of 48.06 over his last 10 Tests.
- Nathan Smith was the pick of the bowlers for the Kiwis in the first Test, taking nine wickets for 108 runs.
- The Kennington Oval has hosted 108 Tests, with teams batting first winning 41 times and chasing sides 30.
We are backing England as the winners of the second Test.
| Tournament: | New Zealand tour of England, 2026 |
| Format: | test |
| Venue: | Kennington Oval, London, United Kingdom |
| Toss Prediction: | To Bat |
| Weather: | 22.2°C|Partly cloudy |
ENG vs NZ Match Prediction & Analysis
The summer of cricket rolls into London as England prepare to square off against New Zealand in the highly anticipated 2nd Test at the Kennington Oval. The host nation carries incredible momentum into this fixture after securing a commanding 115-run victory in the series opener on June 4, outplaying the visitors during the critical phases of the match. New Zealand, meanwhile, find themselves in an immediate crisis situation, facing a 1-0 deficit in the series while dealing with a monumental structural shakeup in their setup.
The build-up to this match has been dominated by a shocking announcement from the Kiwi camp, with New Zealand's all-time record run scorer Kane Williamson officially retiring from international cricket with immediate effect. This leaves an irreplaceable void in the visitors' top order, forcing their remaining experienced batters to raise their game dramatically. England have their own selection headaches with Ollie Robinson nursing a sore knee, but the psychological advantage remains firmly with the home side as they aim to wrap up the series.
RECENT PERFORMANCE
ENG
W
L
W
L
L
ENG
152/10 in 45.2 3.35
The Ashes, 2025-26
England beat Australia by 4 wickets178/6 in 32.2 5.51
511/10 in 117.3 4.35
The Ashes, 2025-26
Australia beat England by 8 wickets69/2 in 10.0 6.9
NZ
L
W
W
W
W
NZ
125/10 in 48.5 2.56
0/0 in 0.0 0
HEAD TO HEAD
Last 6 Matches
Show More Show Less
209/10 in 53.2
NZ VS ENG
New Zealand won by 1 run
483/10 in 162.3
306/10 in 82.5
NZ VS ENG
England won by 267 runs
126/10 in 45.3
TEAMS PREVIEW
England Preview
Joe Root takes over as captain after Ben Stokes’ dismissal, a role he last held during the home summer of 2023. Root’s leadership has been steady rather than spectacular, but his batting remains England's cornerstone. He averages 44.14 in Tests at The Oval, with three centuries and four fifties in 12 matches. Harry Brook, the vice captain, will be expected to provide the aggressive counterpunch. His 56 in the first innings at Lord‘s was the only half-century of the first two innings, and his strike rate of 80 in Test cricket makes him the most dangerous batter in the lineup.
The top order is a concern. Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay opened at Lord’s, and both showed promise with Gay scoring a composed 57 in the second innings. Jamie Smith, the wicketkeeper, has been in prolific county form and showed that with a superb 39 off 52 in the second innings.
The bowling attack is in flux. Ollie Robinson’s knee issue means he is unlikely to feature, leaving a seam attack led by Josh Tongue. Tongue took five wickets at Lord‘s and has become England’s most reliable wicket-taker in home conditions. Jofra Archer has been named in the squad and is expected to play, provided he has recovered from his post-IPL break. The 31-year-old has not played a Test since the Adelaide Ashes Test in December, but his 25 wickets in the IPL at an average of 21.28 suggest he is bowling with rhythm. Sonny Baker, the uncapped Hampshire quick, and Matthew Fisher provide depth.
Key Players: Joe Root, Harry Brook, Josh Tongue
England Predicted Playing XI:
Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root (c), Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wk), Jordan Cox, Josh Tongue, Jofra Archer/Matthew Fisher, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir
England Key Players From Previous Game Of New Zealand tour of England, 2026
England Actual Playing XI:
Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, James Rew, Sonny Baker, Matthew Fisher, Josh Tongue, Jofra Archer, Jordan Cox
New Zealand Preview
The Black Caps enter this crucial Test match under a heavy cloud of uncertainty after losing the services of Kane Williamson. They are already 0-1 down and need an inspiring performance to draw level.
Tom Latham, who has captained New Zealand in 19 Tests, will need to rally a side that looked brittle in the first match. The batting lineup, shorn of its long‑time anchor, relies on Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra to provide stability. Conway has 764 runs in his last nine Tests at an average of 50.93, while Ravindra averages 55.92 in the same period, his left‑handed elegance a throwback to the Williamson era.
Will Young walks into the number three position. He has played 23 Tests without a century, but his 244 runs in India during the 2024 series, when he replaced an injured Williamson, showed his ability to perform on the biggest stage. Young averages 32 overall, but his technique against spin has improved, and he handled Jadeja and Ashwin with composure.
The bowling attack will be led by Matt Henry, who took 36 wickets in his last seven Tests at an average of 22.18. Nathan Smith, the 28‑year‑old right‑armer, impressed at Lord‘s with nine wickets, and Kyle Jamieson’s height and bounce troubled the English top order. The absence of a frontline spinner (New Zealand have relied on Ravindra‘s part‑time off‑spin) could be exposed on an Oval pitch that often assists slow bowlers in the fourth innings.
Key Players: Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Kyle Jamieson
New Zealand Predicted Playing XI:
Tom Latham (c), Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips
New Zealand Key Players From Previous Game Of New Zealand tour of England, 2026
New Zealand Actual Playing XI:
Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Tom Latham, Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Kyle Jamieson, William O'Rourke, Matt Henry
PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS
Weather Conditions
The forecast for London across the five days is for overcast skies with occasional sunny spells. Temperatures will range from 14‑20°C, with humidity around 65‑75 per cent. There is a 30 per cent chance of light rain on days three and four, but a full match is expected. The cloud cover may assist swing bowling, particularly in the morning sessions.
ENG vs NZ Pitch Report
Pitch Condition
BalancedBatting Conditions
Moderate ScoringPace Bowling
SwingSpin Bowling
Minimal Turn
The Kennington Oval in London has long been regarded as one of England’s most balanced Test venues, offering opportunities for both batters and bowlers across all five days. The numbers reflect that balance. Across 108 Tests played at the ground, the average first-innings score is 344, while teams batting first have won 41 matches compared to 30 victories for teams batting second. Home teams have also enjoyed considerable success here, winning nearly 41% of all Tests played at the venue.
Batters who negotiate the new ball can score heavily at The Oval. The ground has witnessed some historic innings, including Len Hutton’s 364 and England’s mammoth 903/7 declared against Australia. However, the venue is rarely a flat batting paradise for the entire match. Seam bowlers often find movement with the new ball, while the surface tends to wear as the game progresses, bringing spinners into contention during the latter stages.
The Oval has also produced results consistently, with only 37 of 108 Tests ending in draws. A first-innings total of 350 or more is generally considered a strong platform, particularly given how the pitch can become increasingly challenging for batting in the fourth innings.
Toss: To Bat
The captain winning the toss will likely elect to bat first. Out of 108 Test matches played historically at this iconic venue, 41 games have been won by the side setting a total in the first innings compared to 30 by the chasing team, making a massive first-innings score a statistical necessity.
ENG vs NZ
Winning Prediction
England have the home advantage, the momentum of a series lead, and a batting lineup that is more settled than their opponents. Joe Root‘s leadership may lack the aggression of Stokes, but his tactical nous is underrated, and he has the backing of a bowling attack that found its rhythm at Lord‘s. Josh Tongue’s accuracy and Jofra Archer‘s raw pace, if selected, could be too much for a New Zealand top order adjusting to life without Williamson.
New Zealand’s hopes rest on their bowling attack. Matt Henry has been one of the most consistent quicks in world cricket over the past 12 months, and Kyle Jamieson’s height can extract awkward bounce on a surface that offers carry. But the batting looks fragile. The collapse at Lord‘s (losing 4 for 11 in the first innings and 5 for 35 in the second) exposed a vulnerability that England’s pace attack will target. Will Young’s return adds experience, but replacing a legend is not a one‑man job. Facing a confident English side that transitions effortlessly between phases will likely prove to be too high a mountain to climb for the transitional Kiwi batting line-up. England should take control early and seal the series.
We are backing England as the winners of the second Test.
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