England are to begin their 2021 home schedule with two Tests against current world No 1 side New Zealand in June, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced Monday.
Three Twenty20 internationals against Sri Lanka have also been added to the programme, with the ECB having previously announced England will play a one-day series against the same opponents.
New Zealand climbed to the top of the International Cricket Council rankings for the first time following a 2-0 series win over Pakistan earlier this month. The Black Caps have won their last six Tests but the series in England, featuring matches at Lord’s (June 2-6) and Edgbaston (June 10-14) will be their first overseas campaign since December 2019.
New Zealand’s most recent trip to Britain ended with a heartbreaking Super Over loss to England in the 2019 50-over World Cup final at Lord’s.
The two matches in June will be England’s first home Test series against New Zealand since 2015.
England, who completed a 2-0…