<p>England are to begin their 2021 home schedule with two Tests against current world number one side New Zealand in June, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced Monday.</p>.<p>Three Twenty20 internationals against Sri Lanka have also been added to the programme, with the ECB having previously announced England will play a one-day series against the same opponents.</p>.<p>New Zealand climbed to the top of the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings for the first time following a 2-0 series win over Pakistan earlier this month.</p>.<p>The Black Caps have won their last six Tests but the series in England, featuring matches at Lord's (June 2-6) and Edgbaston (June 10-14) will be their first overseas campaign since December 2019.</p>.<p>New Zealand's most recent trip to Britain ended with a heartbreaking Super Over loss to England in the 2019 50-over World Cup final at Lord's.</p>.<p>The two matches in June will be England's first home Test series against New Zealand since 2015.</p>.<p>England, who completed a 2-0 series win away to Sri Lanka on Monday, are now set to play at least seven Tests in their 2021 home season, with a five-match series against India already scheduled to begin in August.</p>.<p>"The prospect of our England men's team taking on the world's two top-ranked Test nations in New Zealand and India this summer is something for us all to savour," said ECB chief executive Tom Harrison.</p>.<p>England could in fact play eight Tests in the season if they qualify for the inaugural World Test Championship final.</p>.<p>This is scheduled to take place in England, possibly from June 18-22 (with a reserve day of June 23) at Lord's, although the ICC have still to confirm the exact dates and venue.</p>.<p>New Zealand are well-placed to qualify for the showpiece match, with England still in contention.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, England will play a three-match Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka, with matches at Cardiff's Sophia Gardens on June 23 and 24 at Hampshire's Ageas Bowl on June 26.</p>.<p>They will then face Sri Lanka in a previously arranged three-match one-day international series.</p>
<p>England are to begin their 2021 home schedule with two Tests against current world number one side New Zealand in June, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced Monday.</p>.<p>Three Twenty20 internationals against Sri Lanka have also been added to the programme, with the ECB having previously announced England will play a one-day series against the same opponents.</p>.<p>New Zealand climbed to the top of the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings for the first time following a 2-0 series win over Pakistan earlier this month.</p>.<p>The Black Caps have won their last six Tests but the series in England, featuring matches at Lord's (June 2-6) and Edgbaston (June 10-14) will be their first overseas campaign since December 2019.</p>.<p>New Zealand's most recent trip to Britain ended with a heartbreaking Super Over loss to England in the 2019 50-over World Cup final at Lord's.</p>.<p>The two matches in June will be England's first home Test series against New Zealand since 2015.</p>.<p>England, who completed a 2-0 series win away to Sri Lanka on Monday, are now set to play at least seven Tests in their 2021 home season, with a five-match series against India already scheduled to begin in August.</p>.<p>"The prospect of our England men's team taking on the world's two top-ranked Test nations in New Zealand and India this summer is something for us all to savour," said ECB chief executive Tom Harrison.</p>.<p>England could in fact play eight Tests in the season if they qualify for the inaugural World Test Championship final.</p>.<p>This is scheduled to take place in England, possibly from June 18-22 (with a reserve day of June 23) at Lord's, although the ICC have still to confirm the exact dates and venue.</p>.<p>New Zealand are well-placed to qualify for the showpiece match, with England still in contention.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, England will play a three-match Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka, with matches at Cardiff's Sophia Gardens on June 23 and 24 at Hampshire's Ageas Bowl on June 26.</p>.<p>They will then face Sri Lanka in a previously arranged three-match one-day international series.</p>