The Australian cricket team will tour South Africa in 2026 for the most-awaited multi-format series. The tour will feature a three-match ODI series, followed by three Test matches from late September to October.
It brings together the last two World Test Championship winners, Australia and South Africa. This will also be Australia’s first Test series in South Africa since the 2018 ball-tampering incident at Newlands, making the contest even more exciting and emotional for fans.
This tour is crucial for the Proteas men’s team as they will defend their ICC World Test Championship title. They have a packed home season ahead, during which they will face strong teams such as Australia, Bangladesh, and England.
Schedule of the Australia Tour of South Africa, 2026
The tour will begin with a three-match ODI series scheduled from September 24 to 30. After that, South Africa and Australia will compete again in an exciting three-match Test series from October 09. Notably, they were both finalists in the WTC 2023-25 cycle, and South Africa won the men’s senior title by defeating them by 5 wickets.
| Date | Match No. | Match | Venue | Time (Local) | Time (GMT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Sep 24 2026 | 1st ODI | South Africa vs Australia | Durban, Kingsmead | 10:00 AM | 08:00 AM |
| Sun, Sep 27 2026 | 2nd ODI | South Africa vs Australia | Johannesburg, The Wanderers Stadium | 10:00 AM | 08:00 AM |
| Wed, Sep 30 2026 | 3rd ODI | South Africa vs Australia | Potchefstroom, Senwes Park | 01:30 PM | 11:30 AM |
| Fri, Oct 9 2026 | 1st Test | South Africa vs Australia | Durban, Kingsmead | 09:30 AM | 07:30 AM |
| Sun, Oct 18 2026 | 2nd Test | South Africa vs Australia | Gqeberha, St George’s Park | 10:00 AM | 08:00 AM |
| Tue, Oct 27 2026 | 3rd Test | South Africa vs Australia | Cape Town, Newlands | 10:00 AM | 08:00 AM |
Australia Tour of South Africa, 2026 Squad
Both teams haven’t announced its official squad. We’ll update them as they announce. Until then, let’s have a look at their expected squad for the tour.
South Africa Test Squad
Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Senuran Muthusamy, Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Corbin Bosch, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Kyle Verreynne (wk), Tristan Stubbs (wk), David Bedingham (wk), Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson, Lungi Ngidi
Australia Test Squad
Pat Cummins (c), Steven Smith, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Beau Webster, Sam Konstas, Alex Carey (wk), Josh Inglis (wk), Scott Boland, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Matthew Kuhnemann, Nathan Lyon
Australia ODI Squad
Pat Cummins (c), Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Green, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Matthew Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Cooper Connolly, Sean Abbott, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Ellis, Spencer Johnson, Lance Morris, Ben Dwarshuis, Adam Zampa, Tanveer Sangha
South Africa ODI Squad
Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton, Tony de Zorzi, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Rubin Hermann, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Nandre Burger, Ottneil Baartman, Prenelan Subrayen
Australia Returns to South Africa After 8 Years
Australia will return to South Africa for a Test series later this year, marking their first red-ball tour there since the 2018 Cape Town controversy. During that series, Australian players were involved in a ball-tampering incident when Cameron Bancroft was caught using sandpaper to alter the ball. The scandal led to bans for Steve Smith, David Warner, and Bancroft, and it shocked the cricket world.
Although Australia visited South Africa for limited-overs matches in 2020 and 2023, they have not played a Test series there since 2018. A planned three-Test tour in 2021 was called off because of COVID-19 restrictions and safety concerns.
South Africa vs Australia Head-to-Head
Let’s have a look at the head-to-head records of both teams in ODI and test matches.
South Africa vs Australia Head-to-Head in ODIs
In ODI cricket, the rivalry is very close. South Africa has won 57 matches, while Australia holds a slight edge with 52 victories.
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 113 |
| Australia Won | 52 |
| South Africa Won | 57 |
| No Result | 01 |
| Tied | 03 |
South Africa vs Australia Head-to-Head in Test Matches
In Test cricket, Australia has dominated. Out of 101 matches between the two teams, Australia has won 54, while South Africa has managed 26 victories.
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 102 |
| Australia Won | 54 |
| South Africa Won | 27 |
| Draw | 21 |
Where to Buy Ticket For Australia tour of South Africa, 2026
Fans can purchase tickets for this tour through TicketPro, the official ticketing partner. Supporters can visit the TicketPro website to check match dates, venues, and seating options. It is advised to book early due to high demand. After payment, fans will receive a confirmation with ticket details for stadium entry.
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Where to Watch Australia Tour of South Africa, 2026
After eight long years, Australia’s Test tour of South Africa is finally here, and fans are eagerly waiting for this exciting series. Cricket lovers in South Africa can enjoy all the live action on SuperSport. Meanwhile, fans in Australia can watch the matches live on Kayo Sports and Foxtel.
| Region | TV Channels/Broadcaster | Streaming Platform |
|---|---|---|
| India | Star Sports Network | JioHotstar |
| South Africa (SA) | SuperSport | SuperSport/DStv app |
| Australia (Aus) | Prime Video/Fox Cricket | Kayo Sports |
| UK | Sky Sports Cricket | Willow TV |
