Australia Tour of South Africa 2026 Schedule, Squads, Fixtures, Dates, Venues and More
The Australia Tour of South Africa 2026 is a multi-format men’s international tour featuring three ODIs followed by a three-Test ICC World Test Championship series. The ODI leg begins on September 24 in Durban and runs until September 30, while the Test series starts on October 9 and concludes on October 31 in Cape Town. Cricket South Africa has confirmed six matches across three formats-related stages: three ODIs and three Tests.
The ODI series will be played in Durban, Johannesburg and Potchefstroom. Australia then remain in South Africa for a three-match Test series at Durban, Gqeberha and Cape Town. The Test series is particularly significant because the two teams last met in a Test in the 2025 World Test Championship Final at Lord’s, where South Africa defeated Australia by five wickets to win the WTC title.
The ODI series also has importance ahead of the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, which will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Australia Tour of South Africa 2026 Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tour | Australia Tour of South Africa 2026 |
| Season | 2026/27 |
| Format | ODI and Test |
| Host | South Africa |
| Teams | South Africa and Australia |
| ODI Matches | 3 |
| Test Matches | 3 |
| Total International Matches | 6 |
| ODI Start Date | September 24, 2026 |
| Test Start Date | October 9, 2026 |
| Tour End Date | October 31, 2026 |
| ODI Venues | Durban, Johannesburg, Potchefstroom |
| Test Venues | Durban, Gqeberha, Cape Town |
| Organising Bodies | Cricket South Africa and Cricket Australia |
| Test Championship | ICC World Test Championship |
The ODI series runs from September 24 to September 30, followed by a three-match Test series from October 9 to October 31.
Participating Teams
South Africa
South Africa are the hosts and will play three ODIs against Australia before beginning the three-Test WTC series in October.
Temba Bavuma has been confirmed as South Africa’s ODI captain. The ODI squad includes Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs.
South Africa’s Test squad had not been officially announced. Cricket South Africa’s current player listing includes established Test players such as Temba Bavuma, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Kyle Verreynne, Wiaan Mulder and David Bedingham
Australia
Australia will use separate ODI and Test squads.
Pat Cummins returns to captain the ODI side after being rested for Australia’s recent ODI series in Zimbabwe. Mitchell Starc also returns, while Jack Edwards is in line for an ODI debut.
Cummins will also captain Australia’s 16-player Test squad. The Test group includes Steve Smith, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.
Australia Tour of South Africa 2026 Complete Schedule
ODI Schedule
| Match | Date | Time (Local) | Time (IST) | Teams | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI | September 24, 2026 | 10:00 AM | 1:30 PM | South Africa vs Australia | Kingsmead, Durban |
| 2nd ODI | September 27, 2026 | 10:00 AM | 1:30 PM | South Africa vs Australia | Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg |
| 3rd ODI | September 30, 2026 | 1:30 PM | 5:00 PM | South Africa vs Australia | JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom |
Cricket South Africa lists the first two ODIs at 10:00 AM local time and the third at 1:30 PM local time.
Test Schedule
| Match | Date | Time (Local) | Time (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | October 9–13, 2026 | 9:30 AM | 1:00 PM | Kingsmead, Durban |
| 2nd Test | October 18–22, 2026 | 10:00 AM | 1:30 PM | St George’s Park, Gqeberha |
| 3rd Test | October 27–31, 2026 | 10:30 AM | 2:00 PM | Newlands, Cape Town |
The three-Test schedule is part of the ICC World Test Championship, with the series beginning in Durban and ending at Newlands.
Warm-Up Match
Before the Test series, a South Africa/CSA Invitation XI vs Australians tour match is scheduled for October 3–4 at JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom.
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| CSA Invitation XI vs Australians | October 3–4, 2026 | JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom |
The match is separate from the official three-Test WTC series.
Venues
Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium, Durban
Kingsmead will host the opening ODI on September 24 and the opening Test from October 9–13.
DP World Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
The Wanderers hosts the second ODI on September 27.
JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom
JB Marks Oval hosts the third ODI on September 30 and the scheduled Australia warm-up match on October 3–4.
Dafabet St George’s Park, Gqeberha
St George’s Park hosts the second Test from October 18–22.
Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town
Newlands hosts the third and final Test from October 27–31.
Team Squads
South Africa ODI Squad
The latest confirmed South Africa ODI squad is:
- Temba Bavuma (Captain)
- Corbin Bosch
- Matthew Breetzke
- Gerald Coetzee
- Quinton de Kock
- Tony de Zorzi
- Bjorn Fortuin
- Duan Jansen
- Marco Jansen
- Keshav Maharaj
- Kwena Maphaka
- Aiden Markram
- David Miller
- Nqobani Mokoena
- Ryan Rickelton
- Tristan Stubbs
This is the updated squad after injury-related changes.
Important: Ottneil Baartman and Kagiso Rabada were ruled out of the ODI series with injuries. Lungi Ngidi was subsequently ruled out with a right hamstring injury and replaced by Nqobani Mokoena.
Australia ODI Squad
The confirmed Australia ODI squad is:
- Mitchell Marsh
- Pat Cummins
- Xavier Bartlett
- Alex Carey
- Cooper Connolly
- Joel Davies
- Nathan Ellis
- Cameron Green
- Josh Hazlewood
- Travis Head
- Josh Inglis
- Spencer Johnson
- Oliver Peake
- Matthew Renshaw
- Billy Stanlake
- Mitchell Starc
- Adam Zampa
Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc are returning for the South Africa leg after being rested during the Zimbabwe ODI series.
Australia Test Squad
Australia have officially announced a 16-player Test squad:
- Pat Cummins (Captain)
- Scott Boland
- Alex Carey
- Cooper Connolly
- Cameron Green
- Josh Hazlewood
- Travis Head
- Josh Inglis
- Matthew Kuhnemann
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Nathan Lyon
- Michael Neser
- Matthew Renshaw
- Steve Smith
- Mitchell Starc
- Beau Webster
The squad was announced on September 7, with Cooper Connolly, Matthew Kuhnemann and Michael Neser added to the group that played Bangladesh.
South Africa Test Squad
The South Africa Test squad has not yet been officially announced in the sources checked as of September 23, 2026.
South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad has provided a positive update on Kagiso Rabada’s rehabilitation from a right hamstring injury and said he expects Rabada to be available during the Test series, but this does not constitute an official Test squad announcement.
Team Captains
| Team | ODI Captain | Test Captain |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | Temba Bavuma | Not officially announced |
| Australia | Pat Cummins | Pat Cummins |
Temba Bavuma is confirmed as South Africa’s ODI captain, while Pat Cummins is Australia’s captain in both the confirmed ODI and Test squads.
Key Players to Watch
Pat Cummins — Australia
Cummins is Australia’s captain for the Test squad and returns to the ODI team for the South Africa series. His return strengthens Australia’s pace group after he was rested during the Zimbabwe ODI series.
Mitchell Starc — Australia
Starc has been named in both Australia’s ODI and Test squads. He also returns to the ODI side for the South Africa leg after being rested in Zimbabwe.
Steve Smith — Australia
Smith is included in Australia’s 16-player Test squad. His presence adds experience to Australia’s middle order for the three-Test series.
Temba Bavuma — South Africa
Bavuma will captain South Africa in the ODI series and has been named in the team’s 16-player squad.
Aiden Markram — South Africa
Markram is included in the ODI squad and will be available from the second ODI onward. He was also the leading batter in South Africa’s 2025 WTC Final victory over Australia, scoring 136.
Marco Jansen — South Africa
Jansen is part of South Africa’s ODI squad and is among the players also listed in Cricket South Africa’s current men’s setup.
Kagiso Rabada — South Africa
Rabada missed the ODI series because of a hamstring injury, but his Test availability remains under assessment. Head coach Shukri Conrad said on September 21 that Rabada’s rehabilitation was progressing and that he expected to see him during the Test series.
Records and History
South Africa and Australia have met 101 times in Test cricket. Australia have won 54 matches, South Africa 26, with 21 draws.
Last Five Test Meetings
| Date | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| June 11, 2025 | WTC Final | South Africa won by 5 wickets |
| January 4, 2023 | 3rd Test | Draw |
| December 26, 2022 | 2nd Test | Australia won by an innings and 182 runs |
| December 17, 2022 | 1st Test | Australia won by 6 wickets |
| March 30, 2018 | 4th Test | South Africa won by 492 runs |
Recent ODI Series
The latest ODI series was in August 2025 in Australia. South Africa won the series 2–1.
| ODI | Result |
|---|---|
| 1st ODI, Cairns | South Africa won by 98 runs |
| 2nd ODI, Mackay | South Africa won by 84 runs |
| 3rd ODI, Mackay | Australia won by 276 runs |
The third ODI produced Australia’s second-biggest ODI win by runs, with Australia making 431/2 before dismissing South Africa for 155.
What to Expect
The Australia Tour of South Africa 2026 combines a three-match ODI series with a three-match WTC Test series. The ODI leg begins on September 24, only a few days after Australia’s 3-0 ODI series win over Zimbabwe. South Africa’s ODI squad contains several experienced players, including Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock, David Miller, Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj.
The ODI series also comes with World Cup preparation implications because South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will host the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
The Test series has a different context. South Africa and Australia last met in Test cricket at Lord’s in June 2025, when South Africa won the World Test Championship Final by five wickets. Australia have now named their 16-player Test squad, while South Africa’s Test squad was still awaiting official confirmation as of September 23.
The availability of Kagiso Rabada will be an important squad-development point before the Test series. He missed the ODIs because of a hamstring injury, but South Africa’s head coach reported positive progress in his rehabilitation on September 21.
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