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Sam Curran of England bats during the T20 cricket international between New Zealand and England in Christchurch, New Zealand on October 18, 2025.
| Photo Credit: AP
New Zealand has won the toss and chosen to bowl on Saturday (October 18, 2025) in the first Twenty20 international against England at a sold-out Hagley Oval.
Mitchell Santner returns to captain New Zealand in the three-match series after missing the Black Caps’ recent series against Australia with a rib injury. Rachin Ravindra, who also missed the Australia series with a facial injury, returns to open the batting.
Harry Brook will captain an England team in which Jacob Bethell will bat at No. 3 and Tom Banton at No. 5.
Teams:
New Zealand: Tim Seifert, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner (captain), Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy.
England: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (captain), Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Jordan Cox, Brydon Carse, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood.
Published – October 18, 2025 02:38 pm IST
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NZ vs ENG, 1st T20I: New Zealand wins toss, opts to bowl against England
