Australia Tour of South Africa 2026: Full ODI & Test Schedule, Venues and Dates

Australia will play three ODI matches in South Africa before starting a Test series there. This will be Australia’s first Test tour of South Africa since 2018. The tour includes a three-Test series, and one of the matches will be played in Cape Town. The series will be between the last two Test champions. Cricket South Africa revealed its 2026-27 international fixtures, confirming the Proteas as hosting Tests (men’s or women’s) for the first time in close to two years.

After Australia plays a three-match ODI series featuring matches in Durban, Johannesburg and Potchefstroom through September, Pat Cummins’ men take on the reigning World Test Championship winner in a Test series that concludes with a trip to Newlands Cricket Ground, the site of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal that shook Australian cricket.

Many players from that Test match, including Cummins, Smith, Warner and Starc, have already gone back to Cape Town. Australia played a T20I there in 2020, and they were part of that team. But Australia has not toured the country for a long-form series in eight years. The return of players from the 2018 tour such as Smith, Cummins, Starc, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood is set to be a talking point heading into the series.

Australia Tour South Africa for First Test Series Since 2018

Warner, who along with Smith was banned for a year for his role in the Newlands incident, has now retired. Usman Khawaja and Tim Paine, who became Test captain after the scandal, have also retired. Cameron Bancroft, who served a nine-month ban, is not likely to be considered for a return to the Test team. 

October’s series also features Tests in Durban and Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), as well as a pre-series warm-up match in Potchefstroom. Australia is also likely to face Zimbabwe national cricket team in 50-over matches before heading to neighbouring South Africa. Despite being one of the stronger teams in Test cricket last year, the South Africa national cricket team has reduced the number of home Tests because of money problems.

Australia men's tour of South Africa 2026

ODI Series

Match	Date	Venue	City	Notes
1st ODI	September 24, 2026	Kingsmead Cricket Ground	Durban	—
2nd ODI	September 27, 2026	Wanderers Stadium	Johannesburg	—
3rd ODI	September 30, 2026	JB Marks Oval	Potchefstroom	Day/Night

Test Series

Match	Date	Venue	City
1st Test	October 9–13, 2026	Kingsmead Cricket Ground	Durban
2nd Test	October 18–22, 2026	St George's Park Cricket Ground	Gqeberha
3rd Test	October 27–31, 2026	Newlands Cricket Ground	Cape Town