England v New Zealand T20I Series: Latest Odds, Analysis and Betting Picks

When: August 30 - September 5, 2023

Where: Chester-le-Street, Manchester, Birmingham, Nottingham

Watch: Sky Sports

Best Odds (series): England 8/11, Draw 9/4, New Zealand 5/1

England get their T20I series underway this Wednesday as they host New Zealand at the Chester-le-Street stadium where they are expected to prevail and betting sites have odds at the ready.

Since their 2021 T20 World Cup loss to Australia in Dubai, New Zealand have slipped below reigning 2022 titleholders England to third in the T20I rankings and have a lot to prove after their second-string side quietly lost to associate minnows United Arab Emirates last week.

Four T20Is against the world champions on their own turf will be an ideal litmus test for where they now sit one year out from the next 20-over World Cup, particularly as the packed schedule has given their next generation plenty of much needed exposure. 

They got over the shock loss to the UAE by comfortably brushing aside a couple of second-string county sides, and the most pleasing thing about Kyle Jamieson’s return to cricket other than his three-wicket haul was seeing him bend his back through another four overs without trouble following the UAE series.

The Numbers That Matter

• England lost four of their last six bilateral T20I series including at home to South Africa (1-2) and India (1-2)
• The seven Vitality Blast games in Durham this year were all won or tied by the chasing team
• Mitchell Santner has never dismissed Jos Buttler in any cricket, international or domestic (0/122) 
• Ish Sodhi has career figures of 3/37 to Jos Buttler and Santner 3/17 to Jonny Bairstow

England Team News

Squad (T20I caps): Jos Buttler (c, 106), Jonny Bairstow (66), Harry Brook (20), Ben Duckett (11), Dawid Malan (58), Moeen Ali (74), Sam Curran (38), Will Jacks (2), Liam Livingstone (29), Rehan Ahmed (2), Luke Wood (2), Gus Atkinson (0), Brydon Carse (0), Chris Jordan (87), Tymal Mills (13), Adil Rashid (95)

With plenty of 20-over cricket still to be played between now and the 2023 T20 World Cup, England are going into this with an eye on trying out some new blood but they are still strong favourites at 8/11 with the best cricket betting sites to win the series.

Josh Tongue and John Turner, both fast bowlers who can clock in the 140s, had been selected to lead the seam attack alongside Sam Curran but had to make way with injury.

Chris Jordan and Tymal Mills were drafted in as their replacements, but may not immediately see game time having been told that England still wish to give some exposure to bowlers such as uncapped Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse as well as Luke Wood and Rehan Ahmed.

The top six of the batting order will be more than familiar to Kiwi viewers, even if Will Jacks slots in ahead of one of his more experienced compatriots. 

Buttler, Moeen, Livingstone, Brook and Malan all batted in England’s 2022 T20 World Cup win over New Zealand in Brisbane, whilst Bairstow would have as well had he not missed the tournament with injury.

New Zealand Team News

Squad (T20I caps): Tim Southee (c, 110), Finn Allen (28), Devon Conway (38), Glenn Phillips (59), Tim Seifert (46), Mark Chapman (55), Cole McConchie (9), Daryl Mitchell (52), Rachin Ravindra (17), Mitchell Santner (86), Lockie Ferguson (31), Matt Henry (11), Kyle Jamieson (11), Adam Milne (42), Ish Sodhi (98)

After their own second-choice side were embarrassed by the UAE last week, it is all guns blazing against England with the exception of Kane Williamson, who is still trying to prove his fitness for the ODI World Cup, and James Neesham who has flown home on paternity leave.

Tim Southee retains the captaincy and will retain a bowling attack that includes a fully fit Kyle Jamieson, 98-game veteran Ish Sodhi, and IPL bowler Lockie Ferguson.

The four T20Is and four ODIs are also another opportunity for middle order hopefuls such as Glenn Phillips and Mark Chapman to place themselves next in line for Kane Williamson’s ODI World Cup place should the legendary captain not be fit in time to be shuffled into the squad (by the September 28 deadline).

England v New Zealand T20I Series: What Could Happen?

It’s going to be a challenging four-game series against one of the busiest and most experienced Twenty20 outfits in world cricket, particularly that formidable English batting lineup, but the plucky Blackcaps have for decades loved the underdog tag given to them by betting apps.

Taking on England away was already a difficult assignment, but to make things harder, almost all of England’s squad members are battle hardened and match fit courtesy of the 2023 Hundred, where Jos Buttler, Harry Brook and Will Jacks occupied the top five run scorers of the tournament.

But New Zealand have some key players who also excelled in that tournament: Finn Allen was the second-leading scorer behind the runaway Buttler with 240 from 166 balls (though he registered only one team best score), his opening partner at the Brave Devon Conway was seventh, and Daryl Mitchell produced a half-century in one of his six digs.

Adam Milne picked off 10 wickets from 20 overs to lead the way for Birmingham Phoenix, including best figures of 4/20, whilst in that very same game captain Southee took 3/23 in his first and final appearance of the tournament.

These in-form players are the ones you probably want to be steering towards for any fantasy games and player props, especially as they’ll already be used to the kinds of pitches that can be expected throughout this series.

All in all, the home side should be too good in their own backyard over a four-game tussle, holding a 6-4 head-to-head record across New Zealand and the world since the Kiwis last played a T20I in England (2015).

Opening bat Conway is good for runs wherever he goes around the world, and as New Zealand’s designated T20I wicket keeper when he plays, he gets an additional chance to pump up his player performance tally with some catches. 

We think the 32.5 point mark (bearing in mind it’s one point per run and 10 per catch) set by Bet365 is far too low.

Best Bet: England to Win the Series - 8/11 With Bet365

Player Prop: Devon Conway Over 32.5 Player Performance Points (First T20I Only) - 5/6 With Bet365