New Zealand was posted on the end of an Ashes series this summer and was originally to have had only one Test against Wally Hammond's team. However, New Zealand's advance into the modern world, a result of a flying-boat service connecting it with the rest of the world, meant that a late addition of three games, but not an extra Test, was made to the tour.

The Test was originally of three days duration, but when the third day was rained out a fourth was added. However, the fourth day was also washed out.

Hammond sent New Zealand in but the opening combination of Walter Hadlee and Bert Sutcliffe put on 133 runs, before Sutcliffe was out for 58 on debut. Hadlee went on to score the solitary century of his 11-Test career, finishing on 116. Forty-five from No 9 batsman Jack Cowie saw New Zealand declared at 345/9. Alex Bedser took four for 95 for England and Dick Pollard three for 73.

England came up against the still highly effective Jack Cowie. When Hammond declared at the end of the second day on 265/7, Cowie had taken six for 83 having bowled 30 overs. The innings was notable for Hammond's last Test appearance, a fact acknowledged by the New Zealand players who gave him three cheers before he batted. The satisfaction of dismissing him for 79, by which time his career aggregate was a world record 7249 runs at an average of 58.45, fell to wicket-keeper Eric Tindill who caught him from Cowie's bowling.