Factbox-Cricket-New Zealand v England test series

FILE PHOTO: Second Test - England v Pakistan

(Reuters) - Following are facts and figures ahead of the three-match test series between New Zealand and England, which begins on Thursday:

FIXTURES

First test: Nov. 28-Dec. 02, Hagley Oval, Christchurch

Second test: Dec. 6-10, Basin Reserve, Wellington

Third test: Dec. 14-18, Seddon Park, Hamilton

NEW ZEALAND

World ranking: 5

Captain: Tom Latham

Coach: Gary Stead

Top-ranked batter: Kane Williamson (2)

Top-ranked bowler: Matt Henry (10)

New Zealand squad for first test: Latham, Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Will O'Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Tim Southee, Williamson, Will Young.

ENGLAND

World ranking: 4

Captain: Ben Stokes

Coach: Brendon McCullum

Top-ranked batsman: Joe Root (1)

Top-ranked bowler: Chris Woakes (16)

England squad: Stokes, Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Root, Olly Stone, Woakes.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Test series: 40

New Zealand wins: 6

England wins: 24

Draws: 10

LAST THREE SERIES

2022-2023: New Zealand drew 1-1 with England in a two-test series in New Zealand

2022: England beat New Zealand 3-0 in a three-test series in England

2021: New Zealand beat England 1-0 in a two-test series in England

(Reporting by Suramya Kaushik in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)