The new zealand national cricket team vs england cricket team matches have produced one of international cricket’s longest-running rivalries. The teams first met in Test cricket in 1930, with their first ODI coming in 1973 and their first T20I in 2007. Since then, the rivalry has expanded across bilateral series, World Cups, Champions Trophy matches, T20 World Cups and some of the most dramatic finals in cricket history.
England have historically held the advantage in Test cricket, while New Zealand have enjoyed a much closer record in ODIs. Their limited-overs rivalry has produced several unforgettable matches, including the 2019 Cricket World Cup final at Lord’s, which ended in a tie before England won the Super Over on boundary countback.
The Test rivalry has also become much more competitive in recent years. New Zealand won the 2021 World Test Championship final and, after losing the first Test of their 2026 home series to England, won the next two matches to take the series 2-1.
New Zealand vs England Matches at a Glance
| Year | Format | Competition/Series | Result | Key significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | Test | New Zealand’s first Test series | England won | First Test meeting |
| 1973 | ODI | First ODI | England won by 7 wickets | First ODI meeting |
| 1983 | ODI | World Cup | New Zealand won by 2 wickets | New Zealand World Cup victory |
| 1992 | ODI | World Cup | New Zealand won by 7 wickets | New Zealand won in Auckland |
| 1999 | ODI | World Cup | England won by 8 wickets | England chased successfully |
| 2007 | T20I | T20 World Cup | New Zealand won by 5 runs | First T20I meeting |
| 2007 | ODI | World Cup | New Zealand won by 5 wickets | New Zealand won in St Lucia |
| 2008 | Test | England tour of New Zealand | New Zealand won series 1-0 | Important home success |
| 2015 | World Cup | Semi-final | New Zealand won by 8 wickets | New Zealand reached final |
| 2016 | T20 World Cup | Semi-final | England won by 7 wickets | England reached final |
| 2019 | World Cup | Final | England won on boundary countback | One of cricket’s most famous finals |
| 2021 | Test | World Test Championship Final | New Zealand won by 8 wickets | New Zealand became inaugural champions |
| 2022 | Test | England tour of New Zealand | England won 2-0 | England dominated two-Test series |
| 2023 | ODI | World Cup | New Zealand won by 9 wickets | New Zealand won tournament opener |
| 2023 | T20I | England series | New Zealand won 3-2 | New Zealand took T20I series |
| 2024 | Test | New Zealand series | England won 2-1 | England won two Tests |
| 2025 | T20I | New Zealand series | England won 1-0 | Weather affected series |
| 2025 | ODI | New Zealand series | New Zealand won 3-0 | New Zealand completed ODI sweep |
| 2026 | T20 World Cup | Super Eight | England won by 4 wickets | England won a dramatic chase |
| 2026 | Test | England tour of New Zealand | New Zealand won 2-1 | New Zealand won final two Tests |
The Early Years: First Test Meetings in 1930
New Zealand’s first Test series against England took place in 1930.
The tour marked the beginning of New Zealand’s journey as a Test-playing nation.
England had already been playing Test cricket for more than 50 years, while New Zealand were only beginning their international Test history.
The early matches were therefore heavily influenced by England’s greater experience.
The rivalry gradually became more competitive as New Zealand established itself as a regular Test nation.
Over the decades, England remained ahead in the overall Test record, but New Zealand developed into a team capable of winning series at home and producing important victories in England.
1973: The First ODI
The first ODI between New Zealand and England was played at Swansea on July 18, 1973.
England won by seven wickets.
The match marked the beginning of what would eventually become an extensive ODI rivalry.
The 1970s and 1980s saw ODI cricket grow rapidly, with England and New Zealand becoming regular opponents in World Cups and bilateral cricket.
1983 Cricket World Cup: New Zealand Win
New Zealand defeated England by two wickets at the 1983 Cricket World Cup.
England posted 322/6, setting New Zealand a substantial target.
New Zealand successfully chased the score, reaching 324/8.
The result was an early indication that New Zealand could match England in high-scoring World Cup cricket.
1992 World Cup: Another New Zealand Victory
New Zealand and England met again at the 1992 Cricket World Cup.
The match was played in Auckland.
New Zealand won by seven wickets after restricting England’s batting lineup and completing a successful chase.
New Zealand were one of the strongest teams at the tournament and eventually reached the semifinal.
The result added another significant World Cup win to New Zealand’s record against England.
1999 World Cup: England Respond
England produced a strong response at the 1999 Cricket World Cup.
The hosts chased New Zealand’s total and won by eight wickets.
The match was part of a period in which the teams were regularly competing for positions in the latter stages of major tournaments.
However, the most dramatic World Cup meeting was still to come.
2007: First T20I Meeting
The teams entered the shortest international format at the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa.
New Zealand defeated England by five runs in Durban.
New Zealand scored 164/9, and England finished on 159/8.
The match established a T20I rivalry that would later include several major tournament encounters.
England and New Zealand would eventually become two of the most successful sides in T20 World Cup history.
2007 Cricket World Cup
The teams also met during the 2007 ODI World Cup.
New Zealand won by five wickets in St Lucia.
England scored 209, but New Zealand chased the target successfully.
The result was another important World Cup victory for the Black Caps.
2008: New Zealand Win a Test Series
New Zealand’s Test cricket continued to develop, and the 2008 home series against England was a significant success.
New Zealand won the three-match series 1-0, with the remaining two Tests drawn.
The result demonstrated the difference between the two teams’ historical records was not necessarily representative of every era.
New Zealand’s home conditions, seam attack and disciplined batting regularly made them difficult opponents.
2015 World Cup: New Zealand Reach the Final
One of the most memorable ODI matches between the sides came in the 2015 Cricket World Cup semifinal.
New Zealand defeated England by seven wickets in Auckland.
England were bowled out for only 123.
New Zealand chased the target in just 12.2 overs, with Grant Elliott and Brendon McCullum playing important roles.
The victory sent New Zealand into the World Cup final for the first time.
The match became famous for New Zealand’s aggressive approach, particularly during the powerplay.
2016 T20 World Cup: England Reach the Final
The teams met again in a major tournament one year later.
This time the format was T20 cricket.
England defeated New Zealand by seven wickets in the 2016 T20 World Cup semifinal in Delhi.
New Zealand scored 153/8.
England chased the target with 17.1 overs completed, finishing on 159/3.
Jason Roy made a rapid 78, while Jos Buttler and Alex Hales helped England complete the chase.
England went on to lose the final to the West Indies.
2019: The World Cup Final at Lord’s
The 2019 Cricket World Cup final is the most famous match between New Zealand and England.
The final was played at Lord’s on July 14, 2019.
New Zealand batted first and scored 241/8.
England’s reply also finished on 241.
For the first time in a men’s ODI World Cup final, the match was tied after 50 overs.
The teams then played a Super Over.
England scored 15.
New Zealand also scored 15.
The Super Over was tied as well.
At the time, the tournament regulations awarded the title to the team with the superior boundary count across the match and Super Over.
England were therefore declared World Cup champions.
The result remains one of the most extraordinary finishes in international cricket.
The match has since become a defining part of the history of both teams.
2021 World Test Championship Final
The rivalry produced another historic final two years later.
New Zealand and England met in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship final at Southampton.
New Zealand won by eight wickets.
The match was affected by rain, with the final extending into the reserve day.
New Zealand’s bowlers restricted England’s batting, while Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor guided the chase.
New Zealand became the first World Test Championship winners.
The victory was one of the most important Test results in New Zealand’s history.
2022: England Dominate the Test Series
England responded strongly when the teams met in New Zealand in 2022.
England won the two-Test series 2-0.
The first Test in Mount Maunganui was won by England by 267 runs.
The second Test in Wellington was even more dramatic.
New Zealand were forced to follow on, but they fought back strongly.
England eventually won by one run.
The match became only the second Test in history to be decided by one run.
New Zealand’s fightback made the defeat one of the most dramatic matches in the rivalry.
2023 ODI World Cup: New Zealand Win the Tournament Opener
The teams met in the opening match of the 2023 Cricket World Cup in Ahmedabad.
England, the defending champions, scored 282/9.
New Zealand produced a remarkable chase.
Devon Conway scored an unbeaten 152, while Rachin Ravindra made 123 not out.
New Zealand reached 283/1 and won by nine wickets with more than 13 overs remaining.
It was one of the strongest opening-match performances in the tournament.
The result also gave New Zealand an important victory over the defending champions.
2023 T20I Series
The teams played a four-match T20I series in England in September 2023.
New Zealand won the series 3-1.
The first match was abandoned.
New Zealand won the second T20I by 13 runs.
England responded by winning the third match by 74 runs.
New Zealand then won the fourth match by six wickets.
The series demonstrated the competitiveness of the T20I rivalry while also giving New Zealand their first bilateral T20I series victory over England in England.
2024 Test Series
England toured New Zealand for three Tests in late 2024.
England won the first Test in Christchurch by eight wickets.
The second Test in Wellington was another dominant England performance, with the visitors winning by 323 runs.
New Zealand salvaged the series with a huge victory in the third Test at Hamilton.
New Zealand won by 423 runs.
The result gave New Zealand a memorable final victory, although England still took the series 2-1.
2025: New Zealand Sweep the ODI Series
The teams met in New Zealand in October and November 2025 for three T20Is followed by three ODIs.
The T20I series was heavily affected by weather.
The first T20I was abandoned.
England won the second T20I by 65 runs.
The third match was also abandoned.
England therefore finished the series with a 1-0 advantage.
The ODI series produced a much clearer result.
First ODI
New Zealand scored 224/6.
England were dismissed for 223.
New Zealand won by four wickets.
Second ODI
England were bowled out for 175.
New Zealand reached 177/5.
The hosts won by five wickets.
Third ODI
England scored 222.
New Zealand chased the target, reaching 226/8.
New Zealand won by two wickets.
The result completed a 3-0 ODI series sweep for New Zealand.
Daryl Mitchell led the series with 178 runs, while Blair Tickner took eight wickets. The 2025 series therefore became another important chapter in the modern ODI rivalry.
2026 T20 World Cup: England Win a Thriller
The latest completed T20I meeting came at the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup in Colombo.
New Zealand scored 159/7.
England’s chase began badly, with the team falling to 58/4.
But England recovered through contributions from Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed.
England reached 161/6 in 19.3 overs and won by four wickets.
Will Jacks made an unbeaten 32 from 18 balls, while Rehan Ahmed scored 19 from seven deliveries.
The victory was particularly important because England had been under pressure during the chase.
The ICC described it as a dramatic four-wicket win that kept England unbeaten through the Super Eight stage.
2026 Test Series: New Zealand Win 2-1
The latest Test series between the teams was played in England in June 2026.
It produced a significant reversal from the 2024 series.
First Test — England win by 115 runs
England won the opening Test at Lord’s.
New Zealand were dismissed for 113 and 138.
England made 140 and 226.
England therefore won by 115 runs.
Second Test — New Zealand win by 253 runs
New Zealand responded at The Oval.
The hosts scored 391 and 362.
England made 291 and 209.
New Zealand won by 253 runs.
Third Test — New Zealand win by 160 runs
The deciding Test was played at Trent Bridge.
New Zealand scored 438 and declared at 288/9.
England made 354 and 212.
New Zealand won by 160 runs.
The result gave New Zealand a 2-1 series victory.
It also improved New Zealand’s overall Test record against England to 16 wins, although England remain well ahead historically. Current head-to-head records list 118 Tests between the teams, with England winning 55, New Zealand 16 and 47 ending in draws.
New Zealand vs England Test Head-to-Head
Through the completion of the 2026 Test series, the teams had played 118 Tests.
| Test statistic | New Zealand | England |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 118 | 118 |
| Wins | 16 | 55 |
| Losses | 55 | 16 |
| Draws | 47 | 47 |
| Ties | 0 | 0 |
England’s historical advantage is substantial, but New Zealand’s recent Test results have narrowed the gap slightly.
The two sides have produced 47 draws, reflecting the long history of the rivalry and the large number of matches played before modern Test cricket became more result-oriented.
New Zealand vs England ODI Head-to-Head
The ODI rivalry is considerably closer.
Through the latest completed ODI in November 2025, the teams had played 99 ODIs.
| ODI statistic | New Zealand | England |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 99 | 99 |
| Wins | 48 | 44 |
| Losses | 44 | 48 |
| Ties | 3 | 3 |
| No results | 4 | 4 |
New Zealand therefore hold a narrow advantage in completed ODI wins.
The ODI record also contains three ties and four no-results, illustrating how often the teams have produced tightly contested limited-overs matches.
The most recent ODI series in 2025 ended with New Zealand winning all three matches.
New Zealand vs England T20I Head-to-Head
The teams had played 31 T20Is by the end of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
| T20I statistic | New Zealand | England |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 31 | 31 |
| Wins | 10 | 18 |
| Losses | 18 | 10 |
| No results | 3 | 3 |
| Ties | 0 | 0 |
England have the stronger T20I record overall.
The most recent meeting was England’s four-wicket win over New Zealand at the 2026 T20 World Cup.
New Zealand vs England World Cup Matches
The teams have met repeatedly at the Cricket World Cup.
1983
New Zealand won by two wickets.
1992
New Zealand won by seven wickets.
1999
England won by eight wickets.
2007
New Zealand won by five wickets.
2015
New Zealand defeated England by eight wickets in the semifinal.
2019
England won the final after a tied match and tied Super Over was decided by the tournament’s boundary-countback rule.
2023
New Zealand won the opening match by nine wickets.
The World Cup record illustrates how closely the teams have been matched in major ODI tournaments.
New Zealand vs England T20 World Cup Matches
The T20 World Cup has produced several important meetings.
2007
New Zealand won by five runs.
2016
England won the semifinal by seven wickets.
2021
New Zealand won the semifinal by five wickets.
2022
The teams did not meet.
2026
England won by four wickets in the Super Eight stage.
Their 2021 semifinal was particularly memorable because New Zealand chased 167 with five wickets remaining after England had appeared to be in control for much of the match.
Most Memorable New Zealand vs England Matches
2019 World Cup Final
This remains the defining match of the rivalry.
Both teams scored 241, the Super Over ended level, and England won the World Cup on boundary countback.
2021 World Test Championship Final
New Zealand defeated England by eight wickets and became the inaugural World Test Championship winners.
2022 Wellington Test
England won by one run after New Zealand followed on and nearly completed a remarkable comeback.
2015 World Cup Semi-Final
New Zealand bowled England out for 123 and chased the target in just 12.2 overs.
2023 World Cup Opener
New Zealand defeated the defending champions by nine wickets after unbeaten centuries from Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra.
2025 ODI Series
New Zealand completed a 3-0 ODI sweep on home soil.
2026 T20 World Cup
England recovered from 58/4 to defeat New Zealand by four wickets in Colombo.
Major Records and Milestones
First Test
First ODI
First T20I
Most Test wins
England, with 55.
Most ODI wins
New Zealand, with 48.
Most T20I wins
England, with 18.
Most famous World Cup match
The 2019 final at Lord’s.
Biggest recent Test win
New Zealand’s 423-run victory over England in Hamilton in 2024.
Most dramatic Test finish
England’s one-run victory in Wellington in 2022.
Most dramatic ODI finish
The 2019 World Cup final, which required both a Super Over and a boundary-countback decision.
How the Rivalry Has Developed
The early history was heavily influenced by England’s greater Test experience.
New Zealand gradually became a stronger international side, particularly in home conditions, and their ODI performances improved significantly during the 1980s and 1990s.
The rivalry became much more balanced in the 21st century.
New Zealand’s rise to the 2015 World Cup final and their victory in the 2021 World Test Championship demonstrated their ability to compete with England at the highest level.
England, meanwhile, have produced some of their strongest modern limited-overs performances against New Zealand, including the 2016 T20 World Cup semifinal and the 2019 World Cup final.
The recent record remains format-dependent.
England continue to have a major historical advantage in Tests, New Zealand hold a narrow ODI advantage, and England lead the T20I head-to-head.
New Zealand vs England Matches: Key Takeaways
- The first Test meeting took place in 1930.
- The first ODI meeting came in 1973.
- The first T20I was played at the 2007 T20 World Cup.
- England lead the Test head-to-head by a significant margin.
- New Zealand narrowly lead the ODI head-to-head.
- England lead the T20I head-to-head.
- New Zealand won the 2021 World Test Championship final.
- England won the 2019 Cricket World Cup final after an extraordinary tied finish.
- New Zealand won the 2025 ODI series 3-0.
- New Zealand won the 2026 Test series 2-1.
- England won the most recent T20I meeting at the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did New Zealand and England first play cricket against each other?
New Zealand and England first played a Test match in 1930, when New Zealand began its Test history. Their first ODI was played in 1973, while their first T20I meeting came at the 2007 ICC World Twenty20.
Who has won more Test matches between New Zealand and England?
England have won substantially more Tests. After the 2026 series, England had 55 Test victories compared with New Zealand’s 16, with 47 matches drawn. The teams had played 118 Tests in total.
Who has the better ODI record between New Zealand and England?
New Zealand have a narrow advantage in ODI cricket. After 99 matches, New Zealand have won 48, England 44, with three ties and four no-results.
What happened in the 2019 New Zealand vs England World Cup final?
The 2019 Cricket World Cup final at Lord’s ended in a tie after both teams scored 241. The Super Over also finished level. England were awarded the title under the boundary-countback rule that was in place for the tournament.
Who won the latest New Zealand vs England series?
New Zealand won the most recent completed Test series 2-1 in England in June 2026. England won the first Test, but New Zealand won the second and third. In ODI cricket, New Zealand’s most recent series was a 3-0 home sweep in 2025.
Conclusion
The new zealand national cricket team vs england cricket team matches have produced more than a century of international cricket, beginning with their first Test meeting in 1930 and expanding into a rivalry across every major format.
England have the stronger historical Test record, but New Zealand have developed a much closer ODI rivalry and have produced some of the most significant victories in modern international cricket. The 2019 World Cup final, 2021 World Test Championship final and 2022 Wellington Test are among the defining matches.
More recently, New Zealand won the 2025 ODI series 3-0 and then took the 2026 Test series 2-1. England, meanwhile, won the latest T20I encounter at the 2026 T20 World Cup.
The overall numbers therefore tell a format-specific story: England have historically dominated the Tests, New Zealand narrowly lead the ODIs, and England hold the T20I advantage. That balance is what continues to make this one of international cricket’s most compelling matchups.
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