The Test matches were not part of the 2019–21 ICC World Test Championship (WTC),[6][7] as the tour was confirmed prior to the formation of the WTC.[8]Ashley Giles, the managing director of England men's cricket, suggested that the tour could have a stand-in captain and coach.[9] However, when the squads were announced in September 2019, Joe Root and Eoin Morgan were retained as the captains of England's Test and T20I teams respectively, but Jonny Bairstow was dropped from the Test squad.[10]Sam Billings was named as the vice-captain of England's T20I squad.[11] In November 2019, Bairstow was added to England's Test squad, as cover for Joe Denly.[12]
Kane Williamson was ruled out of T20I series due to a hip injury,[13] with Tim Southee named as New Zealand's captain.[14] New Zealand's Trent Boult was rested for the first three T20Is, in order to focus on his Test preparations.[15]
The final T20I finished in a tie, with the match decided by a Super Over.[16] England won the Super Over to win the T20I series 3–2.[17] In the Test series, New Zealand won the first match by an innings and 65 runs.[18] This stretched New Zealand's unbeaten run at home in Tests to ten matches, going back to March 2017, which includes wins in seven of those fixtures.[19] New Zealand won the two-match Test series 1–0, after the second Test was drawn.[20]
In New Zealand's T20I squad, Lockie Ferguson was selected for the first three matches,[25] and Trent Boult was selected for the last two matches.[26] Ahead of the second T20I, Joe Denly was ruled out of England's squad for the rest of the T20I series due to an ankle injury.[27]Jonny Bairstow was added to England's Test squad as cover for Denly.[28] Ahead of the first Test, Lockie Ferguson and Todd Astle were released from the New Zealand squad to participate in the Ford Trophy.[29] Ahead of the second Test, both Trent Boult and Colin de Grandhomme were ruled out of New Zealand's squad due to injury.[30]Daryl Mitchell was called up as cover for de Grandhomme, with Lockie Ferguson and Todd Astle also rejoining the New Zealand squad for the second Test.[31]
Joe Root scored his first double century as captain of England,[41] and became the first visiting captain to score a double century in New Zealand in Tests.[42]
