Watch New Zealand Vs. England Cricket Live Online Free: 100th Test Match Between Two Rivals Opens

Cricket fans can watch live online free, as rivals New Zealand and England square off in the 100th Test Match between the two nations, opening with Day One action on Thursday morning, May 21. The First Test of the New Zealand tour pits the surging Kiwis against an England side struggling to get back on track, with the jobs of Captain Alastair Cook (above left) and Coach Peter Fabrace believed to be on the line.

To find out how to watch the First Test of the New Zealand vs. England two-match Test series live online for free (and legally), see the information at the bottom of this article. Day One of the First Test is scheduled to begin at the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground in St. John’s Wood, London, at 11 a.m. local time May 21. For viewers in the United States, that’s 6 a.m. Eastern Time, 3 a.m. Pacific.

In just the last two years, New Zealand has soared in the Test cricket rankings, leaping from eighth on the International Cricket Council table in 2013 to their current third position on the back of an 8-2 Test record, with three draws, in that time.

England, on the other hand, has won just four of 15 Test Matches in the same span, losing eight and drawing three. That includes a lackluster performance against a weakened West Indies side in April and early May, a tour that saw England allow the Windies to force a draw in the opener of the three-match series, followed by a split of the next two.

Cook got the axe as captain of the England One Day International team in December, shortly before the side departed for Australia to compete in the Cricket World Cup. He kept the skipper’s slot on the Test side, but without a winning performance against New Zealand, England cricket experts expect that Cook could find himself demoted again.

One factor that may work in England’s favor — other than the home nation advantage — is the possible lack of preparation by the New Zealand squad, which saw several of its top stars rejoin the team only within the last three days, as they were occupied with their Indian Premier League teams.

In addition to the top two fast bowlers for New Zealand, Trent Boult and Tim Southee, the team’s captain Brendon McCullum (above right) is also a last-minute arrival from the IPL.

There are two ways to watch the New Zealand vs. England First Test, Day One live online, free and legally. The first option is ESPN3, the online-only service of ESPN, which will stream the entire Test Match, including Day One at this link. ESPN3 is free to subscribers of almost any major internet service provider, and dozens of smaller ISPs. For a complete list, check this link, or try the instructions at this link if you do not have an account with an ISP that carries ESPN3.

The New Zealand vs. England Test cricket series will also be streamed live online by One World Sports. The Sling TV international sports package includes One World Sports, and costs $10 per month. But the first month is free, and the subscription can be cancelled at any time. To access the Sling TV offer, visit this link.

[Image: Gareth Copley / Getty Images]