The atmosphere at Hagley Oval was electrifying as New Zealand’s Blackcaps won the toss and elected to bowl first against England in the highly anticipated opening Twenty20 International on Saturday, October 18, 2025. A sold-out crowd filled the stadium, eager to witness the start of this exciting three-match series.
Leading the Blackcaps is the returning captain Mitchell Santner, who is back in action after recovering from a rib injury that kept him out of the recent series against Australia. Joining him is another key player making a comeback, Rachin Ravindra, who will open the batting after healing from a facial injury. Their presence is a welcome boost for the home team.
On the English side, Harry Brook takes the captaincy reins. The England lineup features promising talent, with Jacob Bethell slated to bat at number three and Tom Banton at number five, setting the stage for an intriguing batting display.
Here are the confirmed teams ready to battle it out:
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.