England vs New Zealand 3rd Test Predictions - Root to score bit again at the Bridge as England snatch series

England have won three and lost two of their last five Tests against New Zealand. The last time New Zealand beat England at Trent Bridge was in 1986.

England have lost three of their last five Tests, winning twice, first against Australia in the 5th Test in January and against New Zealand last week.

Joe Root is England’s second most prolific batter in Tests at Trent Bridger, scoring 956 runs in 9 Tests at an average of 68.28, including five centuries. Root scored 46 and 77 in the 2nd Test. Harry Brook and Emilio Gay are the next two most successful English batters in the series, each scoring a pair of 40s in their four innings against New Zealand. 

Josh Tongue and Matthew Fisher have both picked up eight wickets in the two Tests in the series, while Jofra Archer returned figures of 2/61 and 3/62 in the 2nd Test.

Shoaib Bashir has picked up just seven wickets in his last five innings, but the pitch will suit his bowling down to the ground. Bashir has played just twice in a Test at Trent Bridge, taking 2/109 and 5/41 against the West Indies in 2024, and following that up with 3/62 and 6/81 against Zimbabwe last May.

New Zealand bounced back from defeat in the 1st Test to beat England by 253 runs in the 2nd Test to level the series at 1-1. It was New Zealand’s fourth Test win in their last five Tests.

Glenn Phillips scored a magnificent century (100 off 135 balls) in the 1st innings of the 2nd Test to ensure his side had a first innings lead over England. Henry Nicholls (121 off 171 balls), Daryl Mitchell (68 off 108) and Rachin Ravindra (76 off 99 balls) ensured New Zealand had a massive lead to set up the victory over England.

Matt Henry picked up figures of 5/80 and 6/29 in the 2nd Test win against England, while Will O’Rourke has taken seven wickets in the four England innings in the series. Kyle Jamieson took 5/62 in the first innings of the 1st Test and has taken 10 wickets in the four innings in the series. Nathan Smith took 3/38 and 6/70 in the 1st Test.

With almost no rain predicted for the next five days in Nottingham and both sides bowling superbly, we’re likely to get a result in this Test.  

England have brought back Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson from suspension, along with selecting Shoaib Bashir to take advantage of the hot weather and the spin it should bring to the Trent Bridge pitch. Player of the Match in the 1st Test at Lord's was Ollie Robinson but he missed the 2nd Test with a knee injury but has not been selected due to the likelihood that spin could play a factor in the match. Jamie Smith is also brought back after missing the 2nd Test through paternity leave, with James Rew dropping out.

New Zealand have no injury concerns and are likely to field the same side that won the 2nd Test.

England XI: Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Ben Stokes (c), Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir. 

New Zealand (possible XI): Tom Latham (c), Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell, Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips.