New Zealand Women tour of England ODI Series, May 2026

England Women and New Zealand Women are set to kick off an important white-ball summer with a three-match ODI series beginning on 10th May 2026 at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street. The series forms part of the ICC Women’s Championship cycle and also serves as crucial preparation ahead of the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England later this summer. The ODI leg will be followed by a three-match T20I series, with matches scheduled in Northampton and Cardiff after the opening game in Durham.

England enter the series with a slightly reshaped squad and a fresh leadership dynamic. Regular captain Nat Sciver-Brunt has been ruled out of the ODI series because of a calf injury, which means Charlie Dean will lead England for the first time in ODIs. The hosts have also included several young players as they continue building towards the World Cup, while experienced names like Sophie Ecclestone, Heather Knight and Amy Jones remain central to the side. New Zealand, meanwhile, arrive with confidence under the leadership of Amelia Kerr, backed by senior stars such as Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine and Lea Tahuhu. The White Ferns have developed into a highly competitive limited-overs unit and will see this tour as an opportunity to test themselves in English conditions before the global tournament begins.

The contest promises an intriguing clash between England’s strong home record and New Zealand’s balanced all-round attack. Riverside Ground traditionally offers assistance to seam bowlers early on, which could make the opening ODI especially competitive. England currently sit higher in the ICC ODI rankings, but New Zealand have narrowed the gap considerably with consistent performances over the past year. Players like Amelia Kerr, Sophie Ecclestone, Amy Jones and Jess Kerr are expected to play major roles in what could be a closely fought series between two sides aiming to fine-tune combinations before a massive international season ahead.