ENG vs NZ 2026: Why are England players wearing black armbands at Lord's?

England and New Zealand kicked off the English Test summer at Lord’s on June 4, bringing red-ball cricket back into focus after the conclusion of IPL 2026. New Zealand captain Tom Latham won the toss and elected to bowl first in the opening Test of the three-match series.

Before the start of play, a poignant tribute was held at the iconic venue. A moment of silence was observed ahead of the national anthems, while England players wore black armbands as a mark of respect for former England cricketers who have passed away since the country's last home international fixture.

Among those remembered were Ken Shuttleworth, John Jameson, Barry Knight, Robin Smith, Hugh Morris, Norman Gifford, Eric Russell, Tony Pigott, and MJK Smith. The occasion also included a tribute to New Zealand great Martin Crowe, marking a decade since his passing. Crowe's daughter, Emma, had the honour of ringing the famous five-minute bell before the start of the Test, receiving warm applause from the crowd at Lord’s.

The opening Test also carries significant importance in the context of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle. New Zealand entered the match in second place on the WTC standings, having secured two wins from their first three matches. England, meanwhile, began the series in seventh place, with three victories from 10 matches.

Weather could play a role as the match progresses, with rain forecast during parts of the Test. Conditions at Lord’s are expected to offer assistance to seam bowlers, particularly during the early stages of the game, while interruptions due to rain remain a possibility later in the contest.

With two quality sides looking to strengthen their position in the WTC standings, the series promises to be a fascinating battle between bat and ball as England begin another important home summer and New Zealand look to continue their strong start to the championship cycle.

Playing XI:

England:

Emilio Gay, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith(w), Ben Stokes(c), Gus Atkinson, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir

New Zealand:

Tom Latham(c), Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell(w), Glenn Phillips, Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, William ORourke