England are set to play three T20Is and three ODIs against New Zealand, starting on October 18. On Thursday, October 16, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced the playing XI for the first T20I against New Zealand at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, scheduled for Saturday. Notably, the Three Lions revealed their starting XI two days before the match. The much-awaited clash is set to begin at 11:45 AM IST on October 18.
Talking about the playing XI, Harry Brook will lead the side, while England have opted for two spinners Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson. Meanwhile, Luke Wood, Brydon Carse, and Sam Curran will lead the pace attack.
England’s playing XI for 1st T20I vs NZ
- Phil Salt
- Jos Buttler
- Jacob Bethell
- Harry Brook (c)
- Tom Banton
- Sam Curran
- Jordan Cox
- Brydon Carse
- Liam Dawson
- Adil Rashid
- Luke Wood
Openers: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (wk): England will look to build on the thumping win they registered in their last completed T20I against South Africa, where they crossed the 300-run mark.
Both openers are known for their aggressive style of play during the powerplay overs and will look to attack New Zealand’s bowling attack from the start.
Middle Order and All-Rounders: Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (c), Tom Banton, Jordan Cox, Sam Curran
The openers will be followed by a middle order that features a strong mix of youth and experience, comprising Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Tom Banton, Jordan Cox, and Sam Curran.
Although several of these batters are relatively new to international cricket, they possess extensive experience in various T20 leagues around the world. They will look to use that experience to help England post a competitive total in the series opener.
Bowlers: Liam Dawson, Brydon Carse, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood – England’s bowling attack will aim to deliver a strong performance against New Zealand, backed by the experience they bring to the team. England are going with four specialist bowlers, with Sam Curran playing as a fast-bowling all-rounder.
Curran, along with Luke Wood and Brydon Carse, will be responsible for taking wickets across all phases of the innings. The spin department will be handled by Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson, both of whom bring a wealth of experience and will be key to controlling the middle overs.
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New Zealand T20 Full squad:
Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Tim Seifert (wk).
England T20 Full squad: Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler (wk), Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Luke Wood.
New Zealand vs England 2025 Tour Schedule
- 1st T20I: October 18, 2025 – Hagley Oval, Christchurch
- 2nd T20I: October 20, 2025 – Hagley Oval, Christchurch
- 3rd T20I: October 23, 2025 – Eden Park, Auckland
- 1st ODI: October 26, 2025 – Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
- 2nd ODI: October 29, 2025 – Seddon Park, Hamilton
- 3rd ODI: November 1, 2025 – Sky Stadium, Wellington
Written By: Manjunath S
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