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Match 3 | England vs New Zealand Test Series 2026 | Trent Bridge, Nottingham | 25 June 2026
England go into the Trent Bridge decider with their strongest available side back together. Stokes returns as captain after suspension, Smith comes back from paternity leave, and Atkinson is cleared again. The top seven picks themselves. Two decisions linger: which spinner starts, and whether England backs up Archer after back-to-back Tests or rotates him out for Robinson if fit. Both calls could define how the series ends.
Three changes from the Oval are effectively confirmed. Stokes comes back in as captain, with Root stepping down after leading the side to a 253-run defeat. Smith returns behind the stumps, meaning Rew drops out; he and Baker both made their Test debuts at the Oval and have since been omitted from the 15-man squad for Trent Bridge altogether.
Cox, who batted in the middle order at the Oval, also drops out of the likely XI. The squad has been trimmed and sharpened back toward the first-choice setup that won at Lord’s by 115 runs.
The consensus predicted lineup from Wisden and Sports Mole reads: Duckett, Gay, Bethell, Root, Brook, Smith (wk), Stokes (c), Rehan Ahmed, Atkinson, Archer, Tongue. A Sportskeeda report published as confirmed omits Root and selects Bashir over Rehan Ahmed, but no official toss-day XI has been released ahead of the June 25 start.
| Player | Role | 1st Test | 2nd Test | 3rd Test Status |
| Duckett | Opener | In | In | Likely In |
| Gay | Opener | In | In | Likely In |
| Bethell | No. 3 | In | In | Likely In |
| Root | No. 4 | In | In (c) | Likely In |
| Brook | No. 5 | In | In | Likely In |
| Smith | WK | In | Out (paternity) | Likely In |
| Stokes | Capt/All-rounder | In | Out (suspended) | In (c) |
| Atkinson | Seamer | In | Out (suspended) | Likely In |
| Robinson | Seamer | In | Out (knee) | Uncertain |
| Archer | Seamer | Out | In | Uncertain |
| Tongue | Seamer | In | In | Likely In |
| Bashir | Spinner | In (0 overs) | Out | Uncertain |
| Rehan Ahmed | Spinner | Out | Out | Uncertain |
| Fisher | Seamer | Out | In | Uncertain |
Bashir played at Lord’s and didn’t bowl a single over. His career record, 68 wickets from 20 Tests at an average of 39.00, gives him the experience argument, and Nasser Hussain on Sky Sports has backed his inclusion at Trent Bridge.
Rehan took 11 wickets in three Tests against India in 2024 and hasn’t played either game this summer. Bethell’s left-arm spin has filled a real role, 4/75 from 21 overs at the Oval, which means England’s second spinner needs to offer something different. Rehan’s leg-spin is that different option, and New Zealand have faced zero leg-spin in this series.
Archer’s Oval figures were 5/123 across the match. Before that game, he hadn’t bowled more than four overs in a match since the December Ashes Test, and the Oval was his first red-ball cricket since Adelaide. England must now decide whether to back him up immediately or manage his workload after a full IPL 2026 season with Rajasthan Royals.
If Archer rests, Robinson is the natural replacement; he played the first Test before going down with a knee injury and remains uncertain. Fisher is also available from the squad. England’s seam call depends entirely on Archer’s condition between now and the toss.
England won at Lord’s and lost at the Oval. A 2-1 defeat at home to New Zealand would be a genuinely poor result, and Stokes won’t need reminding of that. Trent Bridge historically suits England’s seamers, which makes the fourth seamer and spin slot decisions more consequential than they might appear on paper.
Getting the combination right at Trent Bridge matters more than it has in the entire series. The right call on the England playing XI vs New Zealand, Trent Bridge Test 2026, doesn’t just settle this match; it tells you what England’s settled red-ball side actually looks like.
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Will Ben Stokes play in the England vs New Zealand 3rd Test?
Ben Stokes returns for the Trent Bridge Test after being cleared by an ECB disciplinary hearing. He missed the Oval due to suspension, with Root captaining England in his place.
What is England’s predicted playing XI for the Trent Bridge Test 2026?
It is Duckett, Gay, Bethell, Root, Brook, Smith, Stokes, Rehan Ahmed, Atkinson, Archer, and Tongue. A Sportskeeda report lists a different lineup, omitting Root and picking Bashir, but no official XI is confirmed.
Is Jofra Archer playing the 3rd Test against New Zealand?
Archer is in England’s 15-man squad, but his XI place is not confirmed. He bowled 5/123 at the Oval, his first red-ball game since Adelaide, and may be rested if Robinson is fit.
Will Shoaib Bashir play in England’s 3rd Test at Trent Bridge?
Bashir is in the squad but faces direct competition from Rehan Ahmed for the spin spot. He was selected at Lord’s but bowled zero overs, while Rehan claimed 11 wickets in three Tests against India in 2024.
Who is England’s captain for the New Zealand series decider?
Ben Stokes captains England at Trent Bridge on his return from suspension. Root led at the Oval, a Test England lost by 253 runs.
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