The Black Caps are set to go into the first Test against England with four pace bowlers, all with something different to offer.

Matt Henry will again lead the attack and will be joined by two other fit-again speedsters Kyle Jamieson and Will O'Rourke for the opening match at Lord's on Thursday.

Nathan Smith and Blair Tickner will contend for the fourth spot.

"It's awesome any time you have a skill set of guys that offer something slightly different," captain Tom Latham told a pre-match media conference.

"You've got Henners (Henry) and Nathan Smith that are able to move the ball in the air and off the surface and you've got the height of Jamieson, O'Rourke and Tickner. We're certainly fortunate that we have guys that do offer something slightly different from what we've had in the past," Latham said.

The last time New Zealand played a Test series in England in 2022 the New Zealand attack was led by Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Jamieson and Neil Wagner.

Many of the Black Caps will be getting back into the groove of Test match cricket. Before last week's four-day Test against Ireland, New Zealand's previous Test was against the West Indies in December.

Meanwhile, Jamieson's injuries have meant he hasn't played the longest form of the game since early 2024.

Henry, Jamieson and O'Rourke didn't play in last week's Test win over Ireland in Belfast.

Henry was managing a hamstring strain but Latham expects him to continue to be the mainstay of the Black Caps attack.

"Henners' record over the last three to four years since taking the new ball has been amazing for us, the experience he brings. He's played a lot over here, he's a strike weapon, he has a lot of skills and he leads the attack really well.

"To have them all available here for an important series is awesome... the nets haven't been that fun."

Henry and Smith have both played county cricket, while all the New Zealanders have played some form of the game in England and Latham was sure the conditions wouldn't be foreign to any of them.

"For us, it's always about trying to play what's in front of us as best we can and being able to adapt to those conditions," Latham said.

The inclusion of four quick bowlers means there would be only be space for one of either Glenn Phillips or Mitchell Santner as a spin allrounder.

Some rain and overcast conditions are forecast for London which leans towards better conditions for the seamers.

In the 2022 Test at Lord's New Zealand included spinner Ajaz Patel in their line-up but he only ended up bowling two overs in the match.

Possible Black Caps XI: Tom Latham (c), Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Glenn Phillips, Nathan Smith, Will O'Rourke, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson.

Possible England XI: Emilio Gay, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.