# English cricket team in New Zealand in 1996–97

The England national cricket team toured New Zealand in February and March 1997 and played a three-match Test series against the New Zealand national cricket team. England won the series 2–0 with one match drawn. Five ODIs, along with 4 tour matches were also played.

## Test series
### 1st Test

* 24–28 January 1997 (5-day match) Scorecard
* Match drawn Eden Park, Auckland Umpires: SA Bucknor (WI) and RS Dunne (NZ) Player of the match: AJ Stewart (ENG) and NJ Astle (NZ)
* England won the toss and elected to field.

### 2nd Test

* 6–10 February 1997 (5-day match) Scorecard
* England won by an innings and 68 runs Basin Reserve, Wellington Umpires: SA Bucknor (WI) and DB Cowie (NZ) Player of the match: GP Thorpe (ENG)
* New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat.
* DL Vettori (NZ) made his Test debut.

### 3rd Test

* 14–18 February 1997 (5-day match) Scorecard
* England won by 4 wickets Lancaster Park, Christchurch Umpires: RS Dunne (NZ) and DB Hair (AUS) Player of the match: MA Atherton (ENG)
* England won the toss and elected to field.
* MJ Horne (NZ) made his Test debut.

## ODIs series

The series was drawn 2-2, with one match tied.

### 1st ODI

* 20 February 1997 (D/N) Scorecard
| New Zealand 222/6 (50 overs) | v | England 226/6 (48.5 overs) |
| NJ Astle 50 (62) PCR Tufnell 4/22 (10 overs) | | GP Thorpe 82 (104) HT Davis 3/44 (8.5 overs) |
* England won by 4 wickets Lancaster Park, Christchurch Umpires: CE King and DM Quested Player of the match: PCR Tufnell (ENG)
* New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat.

### 2nd ODI

* 23 February 1997 Scorecard
| New Zealand 253/8 (50 overs) | v | England 134/4 (19.3 overs) |
| CL Cairns 79 (74) AR Caddick 2/33 (6 overs) | | NV Knight 84* (70) SB Doull 2/39 (5 overs) |
* England won by 6 wickets (run rate) Eden Park, Auckland Umpires: BF Bowden and DB Cowie Player of the match: NV Knight (ENG)
* New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat.
* England’s target was reduced to 132 runs from 26 overs (as 253 x 26/50 = 131.56).

### 3rd ODI

* 26 February 1997 (D/N) Scorecard
| New Zealand 237 (49.4 overs) | v | England 237/8 (50 overs) |
| BA Young 53 (82) C White 4/37 (5.4 overs) | | GP Thorpe 55 (61) CZ Harris 3/20 (10 overs) |
* Match tied McLean Park, Napier Umpires: CE King and DM Quested Player of the match: CZ Harris (NZ)
* New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat.
* GI Allott (NZ) made his ODI debut.

### 4th ODI

* 2 March 1997 Scorecard
| New Zealand 153 (39.5 overs) | v | England 144 (41.3 overs) |
| NJ Astle 51 (68) RDB Croft 2/26 (9 overs) | | AJ Stewart 42 (68) GR Larsen 3/20 (8.3 overs) |
* New Zealand won by 9 runs Eden Park, Auckland Umpires: DB Cowie and RS Dunne Player of the match: GR Larsen and NJ Astle (both NZ)
* England won the toss and elected to field.
* The match was originally scheduled for 1 March but was delayed by rain.
* The match was reduced to 43 overs by rain.

### 5th ODI

* 4 March 1997 Scorecard
| New Zealand 228/8 (50 overs) | v | England 200 (47.5 overs) |
| NJ Astle 94 (129) AR Caddick 3/35 (10 overs) | | GP Thorpe 55 (82) NJ Astle 2/26 (5 overs) |
* New Zealand won by 28 runs Basin Reserve, Wellington Umpires: RS Dunne and EA Watkin Player of the match: NJ Astle (NZ)
* New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat.