New Zealand set to become England’s first guest in 2021 summer

New Zealand will kick-start the English home summer on June 2 with a two-match Test series against England which will be followed by the World Test Championship final starting on June 18 at the Lord’s.

England had already announced that Sri Lanka would pay a visit to their shore for a limited-overs tournament but they will be the second team to play the series, with No.1-ranked Test side, New Zealand playing the first bout.

As per the schedule released by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the first Test match against New Zealand will be at Lord’s starting June 2 and the second one will be played at Edgbaston starting June 10.

In the press release shared by ECB, Chief Executive Officer, Tom Harrison, said, “The prospect of our England Men’s team taking on the world’s two top-ranked Test nations in New Zealand and India this summer is something for us all to savour.”

England will also play a three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka at the Sophia Gardens (23 June and 24 June) while the third game will be played at the Ageas Bowl on 26 June.

Chester-le-Street will host the first ODI while the Oval and Bristol County Ground will be playing host to the second and third ODI against Sri Lanka.

India tour of England to kick start on August 4

India will play the first Test match against the English side on August 4 with Trent Bridge playing host to the first game. The caravan will thus move to Lord’s, Headingley, Kia Oval, and will end at Old Trafford this time.