Australia will travel to South Africa in the 2026–27 season for a three-Test series that carries plenty of history. It will be their first Test tour of the country since the dramatic 2018 ball-tampering saga in Cape Town, which was an episode that shook Australian cricket and led to heavy bans for key players.
Cricket South Africa announced the sechedule and this will be the first Test series between the last two World Test Championship winners. Fittingly, the final Test will be played at Newlands in Cape Town, which is the same ground where the 2018 controversy unfolded.
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The tour will start with a three-match one-day international (ODI) series in September. Matches will be played in Durban, Johannesburg and Potchefstroom. After that, both teams will play the three-Test match series, which will take place in Durban, Gqeberha and Cape Town, with a two-day warm-up game in Potchefstroom before the first Test. Australia are also expected to play limited-overs matches in Zimbabwe before arriving in South Africa.
Who were part of the Australia 2018 Test series squad
Several senior Australian players, including captain Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood, were part of the 2018 squad. While some have returned to Cape Town for shorter-format matches since then, this will be the team’s first full Test series in South Africa in eight years.
Warner and Smith slapped with 12 month suspension
David Warner, who, along with Smith, received a 12-month suspension after the 2018 incident, has since retired from international cricket. Former Test captain Tim Paine and opener Usman Khawaja have also stepped away from the game, while Cameron Bancroft, who served a nine-month ban, is unlikely to be selected.
For South Africa, this series marks an important step in bringing more Test cricket back home. The Proteas have not hosted a home Test since January 2025, but they are due to welcome Bangladesh and England in the coming season.
The Australia series could play a big role in deciding who reaches the next World Test Championship final. Australia currently sit at the top of the standings, having lost just once in eight matches. However, tough away tours to South Africa and India, along with a four-Test home series against New Zealand, will provide a serious challenge.
Before heading to Africa, Australia will host Bangladesh in northern Australia in August, adding to what is shaping up to be a busy and demanding season across all formats.
ODI Series Schedule
First ODI: September 24 – Kingsmead Stadium, Durban
Second ODI: September 27 – Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Third ODI: September 30 – JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom (day/night)
Warm-up Match
October 3–4 – JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom
Test Series Schedule
First Test: October 9–13 – Kingsmead Stadium, Durban
Second Test: October 18–22 – St George’s Park, Gqeberha
Third Test: October 27–31 – Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town