NZ vs ENG Dream11 Prediction – 1st ODI, One Day, 26 Oct 2025

The first of three ODIs in the England tour of New Zealand 2025/26 will bring the Black Caps (NZ) and the English side (ENG) into direct competition at the iconic Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. England arrive with momentum and senior players returning, while New Zealand will depend on home conditions and their strategic balance to gain an early foothold in the series. Expect a tactical battle with the toss likely to play a key role.

Match Details

• Match: New Zealand vs England, 1st ODI, England Tour of New Zealand 2025/26
• Date: 26 October 2025
• Time: Approx. 1:30 PM NZST / 6:00 AM IST
• Venue: Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, New Zealand
• Format: One Day International (50 Overs)

Team Previews

New Zealand (NZ)

The New Zealand side is returning strong for this series, with the home advantage giving them confidence. They are led by Mitchell Santner and feature a mix of experience and youth. Their batting top order and middle order will need to make use of home wickets, while their pacers and spinners must deliver early breakthroughs.

England (ENG)

England come in with a renewed squad, senior players like Joe Root and Ben Duckett reportedly available, and captain Harry Brook emphasising momentum. Their batting firepower and depth in pace bowling give them serious credentials.

Probable Playing XIs

(Final XIs subject to toss and team announcements.)

New Zealand (NZ)

1. Devon Conway
2. Will Young
3. Rachin Ravindra
4. Daryl Mitchell
5. [Wicket-keeper]
6. Michael Bracewell
7. Mitchell Santner (c)
8. Matt Henry
9. Jacob Duffy
10. [Bowler]
11. [Bowler]

England (ENG)

1. Jamie Smith
2. Ben Duckett
3. Joe Root
4. Harry Brook (c)
5. Jos Buttler (wk)
6. Sam Curran
7. Adil Rashid
8. Brydon Carse
9. Luke Wood
10. Liam Dawson
11. [Bowler]

Top Fantasy Picks

• Joe Root (ENG): Reliable top-order bat with big scoring ability.
• Harry Brook (ENG): Captain and young star; high upside.
• Devon Conway (NZ): Home-conditions batter who thrives on setting pace.
• Mitchell Santner (NZ): Captain plus all-rounder with bat and ball value.
• Matt Henry (NZ): Lead pacer who can fetch early wickets — valuable in fantasy.

Captain & Vice-Captain Suggestions

• Captain: Harry Brook (ENG) or Joe Root (ENG)
• Vice-Captain: Devon Conway (NZ) or Mitchell Santner (NZ)

Match Prediction

While England bring form and firepower, New Zealand’s home conditions and balance give them a slight edge. The toss will be important as batting first could offer advantage in the later part of the day.

Prediction: New Zealand to win the 1st ODI by around 30–40 runs.

Fantasy & Strategy Tips

• Focus on top-order batters because they face more overs, and therefore have more scoring opportunities.
• Pick two all-rounders to cover contributions with both bat and ball.
• Include one or two strike bowlers from each side for differential fantasy value.
• Track the toss: If the team batting first posts a solid score, picking their top-order and their best bowlers becomes crucial.
• Balanced team makeup: 5 batters, 2 all-rounders, 3 bowlers works well for 50-over fantasy formats.

Conclusion

The NZ vs ENG 1st ODI marks the start of an important series between two strong sides. New Zealand’s home advantage and strategic depth give them a narrow favouritism, while England’s batting firepower and pace attack make them extremely dangerous. For fantasy cricket users, focusing on top-order contributions and all-rounders is the optimum strategy.