ENG vs NZ 3rd Test: Match Prediction, Preview, Team News, Pitch Report And Key Battles

England and New Zealand will face each other in the third and final Test of the 2026 New Zealand tour at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on June 26.

England will be looking to bounce back after losing the second Test to New Zealand by 253 runs at The Oval.

With the series level at 1-1, the match at Trent Bridge will decide the series, and England are expected to have many of their senior players back.

ENG vs NZ 3rd Test: Match Overview

Team News

England

The main talking point ahead of the match is the return of Ben Stokes, who is set to lead England again, as he and Gus Atkinson were unavailable for the second Test.

Stokes and Atkinson were celebrating England’s victory in the first Test at a London nightclub when an incident occurred in which a member of the team’s security staff was punched by a Saracens rugby player.

Both players remained outside after England’s midnight curfew and were ruled out of the second Test while an investigation was carried out.

The investigation is now complete, and the ECB said the pair “broke a number of contractual obligations which require England players to maintain the highest standards at all times and act in the best interests of England cricket”, but added that they were not responsible for the “violent conduct”.

Both players have received written warnings and have been included in the squad for the series decider, with Stokes retaking the captaincy from Joe Root.

His return, along with the availability of seamer Ollie Robinson and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, will be a big strength for England.

New Zealand

Meanwhile, New Zealand will be very pleased with their performance at the Oval after losing the first Test by 115 runs on a challenging Lord’s pitch.

Matt Henry was superb, taking 5-80 in the first innings and 6-29 in the second after struggling with a hamstring problem and back strain during the Lord’s Test.

Henry Nicholls also made a strong impression after being asked to bat at No. 3 for Kane Williamson, scoring a brilliant 121 in the second innings.

Batting all-rounder Glenn Phillips was the star of the first innings, scoring his maiden Test century.

Also Read: Ellyse Perry vs Lauren Bell: All-Rounder Stats, Batting & Bowling Comparison

ENG vs NZ: Head-to-Head (Tests)

Key Battles

England

England have made several changes to their squad, with Stokes and Atkinson returning while James Reve and Sonny Baker have been left out.

Both Reve and Baker made their Test debuts at The Oval, with Reve a late addition to the squad after Smith missed the game following the birth of his second child.

The 23-year-old Baker played well, taking 3 for 161 in the match, while Reve struggled behind the stumps and could only manage 24 and 15.

Smith is set to return as wicketkeeper, while Stokes is expected to come in at No. 7 for Jordan Cox.

Robinson is expected to be available after missing the second Test with a knee problem and is likely to compete with Atkinson for a place in the seam attack alongside Jofra Archer, Josh Tong and Stokes.

England may also bring back Shoaib Bashir after deciding to play without a spinner in the Oval Test.

New Zealand

New Zealand are expected to stick with the team that won the second Test, with captain Tom Latham and Devon Conway continuing to open the batting.

Nicholas, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell and Phillips will form the middle-order.

Henry will once again lead a dangerous bowling attack, with Kyle Jamieson, Will O’Rourke and Nathan Smith supporting him.

Pitch Report: Trent Bridge Cricket Ground

Trent Bridge has built a reputation as one of England’s best batting venues, with high-scoring matches becoming a regular feature in recent years.

The ground generally offers great pace and bounce, allowing batsmen to play their shots freely, although seamers can find movement with the new ball in favourable conditions.

In the last Test played at Trent Bridge, England declared their innings at 565 at 5-5, helped by centuries from Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope, leading Zimbabwe to an innings victory.

Toss Prediction

The toss can play a significant role at Trent Bridge, where teams often choose to bowl first because there is early help available for the fast bowlers.

As the match progresses, the pitch usually settles into an excellent batting surface, making chasing a convenient option for the captain who wins the toss.

ENG vs NZ 3rd Test: Match Prediction

England should benefit from having a much stronger and more experienced team available for this Test.

However, New Zealand will arrive full of confidence after their win at The Oval, and it is not yet clear what impact the off-field problems will have on England.

Cricbites Prediction: England will win

ENG vs NZ 3rd Test: Full Squads

England team: Ben Stokes (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox (wicketkeeper), Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, Olly Robinson, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Josh Tong.

New Zealand team: Tom Latham (captain), Tom Blundell (wicketkeeper), Devon Conway, Zac Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Will Young.

Follow Cricbites for the latest cricket updates, match schedules, player news, records, rankings and expert insights from around the world.

Read More: ENG-W vs WI-W Match Prediction – ICC Women’s T20 World Cup: Playing XI, Pitch Report And Match Details