New Zealand vs England third Test prediction and cricket betting tips

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Where to watch New Zealand vs England

You can watch New Zealand vs England in the Third Test at 10pm on Friday, December 13, live on TNT Sports 1

Match prediction & best bets

Kane Williamson top New Zealand first-innings runscorer
2pts 3-1 Betfair, Paddy Power

England to have opening partnership of under 27.5
2pts 10-11 bet365

Tim Southee to hit most first-innings sixes for New Zealand
1pt 9-1 bet365

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New Zealand vs England predictions

Just over a month after New Zealand sealed a stunning 3-0 Test series triumph in India, they are 2-0 down going into the third and final match of their home series against England.

The Black Caps were lackadaisical in the field in the first Test, allowing Harry Brook's 171 to set up a comfortable eight-wicket win for England.

And the tourists produced an excellent all-round display in the second match in Wellington, where Brook scored another century and New Zealand were skittled for 125 in the first innings.

The 323-run margin of victory would have been even wider but for Kiwi wicketkeeper Tom Blundell's second-innings 115 out of 259 and England are odds-on to wrap up a 3-0 clean sweep in Hamilton.

They are not renowned for their ruthlessness, suffering a shock defeat against Sri Lanka in a dead rubber at The Oval in the summer and letting slip a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 in Pakistan in October.

However, six of their top seven batsmen are averaging at least 40 in this series and fast bowlers Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse are capable of significant contributions further down the order.

Carse and Atkinson have been superb with the ball in the first two matches and Woakes has claimed the prize wicket of Kane Williamson in two of New Zealand's last three innings.

Williamson could be the main obstacle for England again, having made 93 and 61 in the first Test and top-scored with 37 in the hosts' feeble first innings in Wellington.

He has a sensational Test record at Seddon Park, averaging 94.26 with six centuries and five fifties from just 19 innings.

Williamson made a career-best 251 against the West Indies in Hamilton in 2020 and scored 43 and 133 not out against South Africa at the venue in February. 

Opener Zak Crawley is the one England batter yet to make a score in the series and his struggles against the new ball may continue in the third Test.

Matt Henry is a major threat to England's top two and, after opening stands of nine, one, 12 and nine in the first two games, the tourists may lose another early wicket in the first innings.

Tim Southee's bluntness with the ball has hampered New Zealand but the veteran could mark his final Test appearance with some trademark big hitting in the lower order.

Southee is worth chancing to hit the most sixes for the hosts in the first innings as only five players, including England captain Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, have struck more maximums than his 95 in Test cricket.

He hit two of New Zealand's three sixes in the second innings in Christchurch and cleared the ropes nine times in a brutal 77 not out on his Test debut against England in March 2008.

New Zealand vs England team news

New Zealand
Will Young will open the batting as Devon Conway has left the squad for the birth of his first child. Tim Southee, who retires at the end of the series, is expected to play despite claiming only four wickets in the first two Tests.

England
Ollie Pope will continue to keep wicket as Jamie Smith and Jordan Cox are unavailable. Matthew Potts and Olly Stone are options if England choose to freshen up their pace attack.

New Zealand vs England weather

Days one and five should be sunny and dry; cloudy on days two and three with scattered showers forecast for day four and temperatures ranging from 19C to 27C. 

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