Cricket: Blackcaps test tour to England confirmed

The Blackcaps will travel to England for a two-test series in June.

Currently the world's No.1 ranked test team, New Zealand will take on the English at Lord's, starting June 3 (NZ time), then Edgbaston from June 11.

Kane Williamson's men are in the midst of a golden run in their whites, after winning six consecutive tests, dispatching West Indies and Pakistan so far this summer.

Fourth-ranked England could provide the ideal warm-up for the inaugural ICC World Test Championship final, scheduled for late June at Lord's. The Blackcaps are in a strong position to clinch a spot in the final, but must still rely on other results going their way.

When their away series against Sri Lanka concludes this week, England head to India for four tests against the home side, as well as a five-match T20 series.

Their matches against New Zealand will mark the start of their home summer.

"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 to savour," says England & Wales Cricket Board chief executive Tom Harrison.

England are still in contention for a spot at the world test final, after sweeping Sri Lanka in their two tests, but must now win their series over India 3-0.

New Zealand are also eyeing away series against Bangladesh (Twenty20) and Pakistan (T20 and one-day), before the T20 World Cup in India in October/November.

The details of those tours, including the location for the Pakistan leg, have yet to be finalised.

Next month, the Blackcaps will host Australia for a five-game T20 series, before playing three one-day internationals and three T20s against Bangladesh in March.

Join us next month for live updates of the Blackcaps v Australia T20 series