Ever felt that rush when two underdogs clash against a giant, and somehow, the magic happens? That’s the New Zealand vs England cricket rivalry for you—it’s got heart, grit, and moments that’ll make you jump out of your seat. Honestly, I’ve lost count of the times I’ve stayed up late, yelling at the TV during one of their Tests, wondering if the Kiwis could pull off another miracle against the old enemy.
This timeline traces their battles from the first ball in 1930 right through to the latest thrillers in 2025-26. England leads overall with 54 Test wins to New Zealand’s 14 across 115 matches, but don’t let stats fool you—the Black Caps have punched way above their weight, especially at home. Drawing from trusted records like ESPNcricinfo and Crictotal, here’s the full story, packed with stats, highs, lows, and those unforgettable turning points.
Origins of the Rivalry (1930s-1950s)
Picture this: It’s 1929-30, New Zealand’s first-ever Test series, hosted at home against England. Four matches, one English win, three draws—no Kiwi victories yet. You know, back then, New Zealand cricket was like a scrappy kid learning to walk, facing the mighty MCC touring side.
England dominated early tours. In 1931, they won 1 of 3 in England; 1932-33 saw two draws Down Under. Fast forward to 1954-55—England swept 2-0 in New Zealand, but the hosts weren’t far behind. By 1958, England crushed 4-0 in a five-Test whitewash on home soil. Total through the ’50s: England 9 wins, New Zealand 0, 7 draws.
What changed? New Zealanders started believing. Glenn Turner and Bert Sutcliffe emerged, hinting at future glory.
New Zealand’s Breakthrough Era (1960s-1970s)
The 1960s flipped the script. In 1962-63, England won 3-0 in New Zealand, but 1965 saw them repeat 3-0 at home. Draws piled up—like 1965-66’s 0-0-3 series. Frustrating? Absolutely. But Kiwis hung tough.
By 1973, England edged 2-1 in England. Then 1977-78: New Zealand finally tasted victory! They won 1, England 1, one draw in a three-Test series. Richard Hadlee was rising—a beast with bat and ball. Stats show England still led 17-1 overall, but momentum shifted.
In ODIs, things heated up post-1975 World Cup. England beat NZ in their first ODI clash, but the Tests built the base. Personal opinion: This era’s draws built Kiwi resilience—you can’t win ’em all without first surviving.
New Zealand vs England Cricket Timeline: Complete Series Table
The New Zealand national cricket team and England have clashed in 115 Test matches since 1929/30, with England holding a dominant 54 wins to New Zealand’s 14 (47 draws). This table captures every bilateral Test series timeline, highlighting venues, results, and key margins—drawn straight from verified records like Crictotal and ESPNcricinfo for accuracy up to the 2024/25 series.
I’ve kept it simple: short rows for quick scanning, totals at the bottom. Perfect for spotting patterns, like England’s early whitewashes or NZ’s rare home triumphs. You know, it’s wild how draws dominated early on—weather and grit in equal measure.
| # | Season | Venue | Matches | England Wins | NZ Wins | Draws |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1929/30 | New Zealand | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 2 | 1931 | England | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | 1932/33 | New Zealand | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 4 | 1937 | England | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 5 | 1946/47 | New Zealand | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | 1949 | England | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 7 | 1950/51 | New Zealand | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | 1954/55 | New Zealand | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | 1958 | England | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | 1958/59 | New Zealand | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | 1962/63 | New Zealand | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | 1965 | England | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | 1965/66 | New Zealand | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 14 | 1969 | England | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | 1970/71 | New Zealand | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 16 | 1973 | England | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 17 | 1974/75 | New Zealand | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 18 | 1977/78 | New Zealand | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 19 | 1978 | England | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | 1983 | England | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 21 | 1983/84 | New Zealand | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 22 | 1986 | England | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 23 | 1987/88 | New Zealand | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 24 | 1990 | England | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 25 | 1991/92 | New Zealand | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 26 | 1994 | England | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 27 | 1996/97 | New Zealand | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 28 | 1999 | England | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 29 | 2001/02 | New Zealand | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 30 | 2004 | England | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | 2007/08 | New Zealand | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 32 | 2008 | England | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 33 | 2012/13 | New Zealand | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 34 | 2013 | England | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | 2015 | England | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 36 | 2017/18 | New Zealand | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 37 | 2019/20 | New Zealand | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 38 | 2021 | England | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 39 | 2022 | England | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | 2022/23 | New Zealand | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 41 | 2024/25 | New Zealand | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | – | – | 115 | 54 | 14 | 47 |
1980s: Hadlee’s Golden Age
Richard Hadlee. Say no more. The man redefined fast bowling. 1983: England won 3-1 in England. But 1983-84 in NZ? Kiwis drew 1-1-2, with Hadlee snaring 20 wickets in three Tests.
1986 in England: 1 draw, 2 draws—wait, NZ won one! Hadlee’s 5-41 at Trent Bridge sealed it. Series: 1-0-2 to NZ. By decade’s end, England 24-3, but Hadlee’s 103 Tests vs England (including 1987-88 draws) featured 142 wickets at 20.56 average.
ODIs kicked off properly—NZ led early head-to-head 10-8 by 1989. T20s? Not yet, but the rivalry deepened. Imagine facing Hadlee on seaming pitches; England’s batsmen dreaded it.
1990s: Competitive Stalemates
The ’90s were draw-heavy. 1990: England 1-0-2. 1991-92: England 2-1 in NZ. Martin Crowe captained NZ to near-misses, like 1994’s 2-1 England series win.
1996-97: England 2-1 in NZ. Chris Cairns smashed big hundreds. Stats: England 29-4 overall Tests. ODIs evened out—NZ won key games, like the 1999 World Cup group stage thriller where NZ chased 189.
Why so many draws? Weather, cautious captains. But NZ’s first overseas Test win came in 1994 at Lord’s? No, that was ’86. Still, they stole series shares.
2000s: Williamson Rises, England Peaks
Entering the 2000s, NZ upset England 2-1 in 2001-02 at home—Stephen Fleming’s leadership shone. Daniel Vettori debuted, spinning webs.
2004: England whitewashed 3-0 pre-Ashes. 2007-08: England 2-1 in NZ. ODIs: England edged 28-25 head-to-head by 2009.
Kane Williamson arrived in 2010, but 2008 Lord’s Test saw NZ fight back. T20s began—NZ won the 2007-08 series 2-1. Stats highlight: NZ’s home record improved to 7 wins, 22 losses by decade end.
I’ve watched Williamson bat for hours; his patience against England’s swing? Poetry.
2010s: Black Caps Mature
NZ hit stride. 2013: England 2-0 in ODIs, but Tests drew. 2015 World Cup semi: NZ crushed England by 9 wickets—Brendon McCullum’s blitz, 50-ball 100? Iconic.
Tests: 2013 drew 0-0-3 in NZ; England 2-0 in 2013 England. 2017-18: NZ 1-0-1. Ross Taylor, Trent Boult starred.
2019 World Cup final: Lord’s heartbreak. NZ tied England; Super Over boundaries gave it to Ben Stokes’ team. Stats: NZ 1 win in finals vs ENG.
Overall Tests by 2019: England 45-12. ODIs: England 65-51 NZ. T20Is: Even, 9-9.
2020s: Bazball Meets Black Caps Grit
Post-Covid, fireworks. 2021: England drew 1-0-1 at home. 2022: England smashed 3-0 in England—Bazball began, 506/4 declared vs NZ.
2022-23 NZ: 1-1-0, NZ’s Hamilton 423-run win. 2024-25 NZ: England 2-1—epic series, Tim Southee’s farewell 391 wickets.
Recent T20s 2025-26: England tour, 1st T20 at Christchurch rain-affected, NZ bowlers took 6 wickets. Series ongoing as of Feb 2026.
Stats update (to 2025): Tests—England 54-14-47 (115 matches). ODIs: England ~80 wins, NZ ~65. T20Is: Near even, ~20 each.
| Format | Total Matches | England Wins | NZ Wins | Draws/Ties/No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 115 | 54 | 14 | 47 |
| ODIs | 150+ | 80 | 65 | 5 |
| T20Is | 45 | 22 | 20 | 3 |
Iconic Matches That Defined the Rivalry
2019 World Cup Final: Super Over Drama
Lord’s, July 14, 2019. NZ 241/8; England matched it. Super Over: Both scored 15. England’s boundary count (2 vs 0) won it. Ben Stokes’ heroics. Heartbreak for Kane Williamson—Player of the Series.
2021 Lord’s Test: Timeless Draw?
England 2021 series: 1st Test rain-hit draw. Stokes’ 176 rescued ENG. NZ’s fightback showed depth.
2022 Hamilton Massacre
NZ 423-run win. Kane’s 156, Santner 4-85. England’s 234 collapse. Largest NZ Test win margin.
Hadlee’s 1986 Trent Bridge
NZ’s first England Test win. Hadlee 5-41. Chasing 228, they got it.
Questions for you: Which hurts more—2019 final or those early whitewashes?
Head-to-Head Stats Deep Dive
England’s Test edge: 54-14. But NZ home: More competitive, 14 wins total, many home.
Top performers:
| Player | Team | Tests vs Opp | Runs | Wickets | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Hadlee | NZ | 30 | 1,351 | 142 | 20.56 |
| Kane Williamson | NZ | 25+ | 2,100+ | – | 50+ |
| James Anderson | ENG | 35+ | – | 110+ | 25 |
| Tim Southee | NZ | 25 | 800+ | 150+ | 28 |
ODI stars: Williamson 1,900+ runs vs ENG. T20: Daryl Mitchell’s power-hitting.
Win %: England 47% Tests; NZ 12%. But upsets—like 1999 WC—keep it alive.
Tactical Evolutions and Key Battles
England’s swing kings—Anderson, Broad—vs NZ’s seam attack (Boult, Southee, Wagner). Bazball post-2022: Aggressive declarations changed dynamics.
NZ’s allrounders shine: Southee retired 2025 with 391 wickets total, many vs ENG. McCullum’s captaincy post-2015 injected fearlessness.
Stats: NZ’s 14 Test wins mostly post-1978. Recent series: 2024/25 ENG 2-1, but NZ pushed hard.
Personal anecdote: During 2021 World Test Championship final (ENG beat NZ by 8 wickets), I was glued—Ollie Pope’s 137 was unreal, but NZ’s fight embodied their spirit.
Recent Series Breakdown (2020-2026)
2020-21 NZ: COVID-delayed, 2 Tests drawn.
2021 ENG: 2 draws.
2022 ENG: 3-0 whitewash.
2022-23 NZ: 1-1.
2024-25 NZ: ENG 2-1—1st Test ENG innings win, 2nd NZ fightback, 3rd ENG chase.
2025-26 T20s: Rain in 1st, NZ edges bowling. As of Feb 2026, series live—check ESPN for live scores.
ODIs 2023: ENG won 2-1 in home series.
Impact on World Cricket
This rivalry shaped modern cricket. NZ’s rise to No.1 Test team (2021) owed much to ENG tests. 2015 WC semi propelled Black Caps to final.
Stats: Combined ICC rankings battles honed skills. England’s white-ball dominance tested NZ’s versatility.
Future Fixtures and What to Watch
2026 tours pending, but expect T20 World Cup clashes. NZ’s young guns—Rachin Ravindra, Will Young—vs England’s Jofra Archer return?
Prediction (my take): Tighter than ever. NZ home advantage could level Tests.
| Upcoming Potential | Format | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| T20 Series cont. | T20 | NZ | Oct 2025-Feb 2026 |
| Test Tour | Test | ENG | 2027? |
Conclusion
Wrapping up this epic timeline, New Zealand vs England stands as cricket’s ultimate tale of persistence versus power—England’s 54 Test wins dwarf NZ’s 14, yet every Black Caps victory feels monumental. From Hadlee’s hauls to Williamson’s centuries and Stokes’ miracles, it’s produced legends and lore that’ll echo for generations.
Don’t sleep on NZ’s grit; they’ve turned draws into dominance at home. As we hit 2026, with T20s raging and Tests looming, this rivalry promises more chills. Whether you’re in Siliguri cheering from afar or pitch-side in Christchurch, grab popcorn—cricket doesn’t get better. What’s your favorite moment? Share below!