Australia Tour of South Africa 2026 Schedule & Fixtures

The Australia tour of South Africa 2026 Schedule brings one of international cricket's fiercest rivalries back to South African soil. Australia will face South Africa across a multi-format campaign running from September 24 to October 31, 2026. 

The Australia vs South Africa Schedule includes three ODIs, a two-day tour match, and three Tests at major venues across the country.

The tour also carries significant context in Test cricket. Australia returns to South Africa for a Test series for the first time since the 2018 tour, while the three-match series also gives both teams another important contest during the 2025–2027 World Test Championship cycle.

Australia Tour of South Africa 2026 Schedule 

The Australia tour of South Africa 2026 Schedule features three ODIs followed by a two-day tour match and a three-Test series.

The ODI campaign begins in Durban on September 24 before moving to Johannesburg and Potchefstroom. The tour match then takes place at JB Marks Oval before the Test series begins at Kingsmead.

The final two Tests will be played at St George's Park in Gqeberha and Newlands in Cape Town. The full campaign runs for more than a month and combines white-ball cricket with a major red-ball challenge for both teams.

Australia vs South Africa ODI Series Schedule

Match	Date	Venue	Match Time
1st ODI	September 24, 2026	Kingsmead, Durban	10:00 AM Local / 1:30 PM PKT
2nd ODI	September 27, 2026	The Wanderers, Johannesburg	10:00 AM Local / 1:30 PM PKT
3rd ODI	September 30, 2026	Senwes Park, Potchefstroom	1:30 PM Local / 5:00 PM PKT

Australia vs South Africa Test Series Schedule

Match	Date	Venue	Match Time
1st Test	October 9–13, 2026	Kingsmead, Durban	9:30 AM Local
2nd Test	October 18–22, 2026	St George's Park, Gqeberha	10:00 AM Local
3rd Test	October 27–31, 2026	Newlands, Cape Town	10:00 AM Local

The Australia vs South Africa campaign begins with the first ODI on September 24 and concludes with the third Test on October 31.

Australia vs South Africa Squads

Both teams have named experienced squads for the Australia vs South Africa series, with injuries and selection decisions shaping their preparations.

Australia ODI Squad

Mitchell Marsh (c), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Cooper Connolly, Jack Edwards.

Australia Test Squad

Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Matthew Kuhnemann, Beau Webster, Sam Konstas, Michael Neser.

South Africa ODI Squad

Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock, David Miller, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen, Tony de Zorzi, Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi, Keshav Maharaj, Bjorn Fortuin, Ottneil Baartman, Kwena Maphaka.

Key Player Battles to Watch in Australia vs South Africa

Marnus Labuschagne vs Gerald Coetzee

Marnus Labuschagne enters the series under considerable scrutiny after a prolonged wait for a Test century. Gerald Coetzee's pace and aggressive approach could test Labuschagne when the Australian batter faces South Africa's attack on home conditions.

Mitchell Starc vs Temba Bavuma

Temba Bavuma will have a major role at the top of South Africa's batting order, while Mitchell Starc presents an immediate threat with the new ball. Starc's pace, swing, and ability to attack the stumps could make this an important contest in the opening overs.

Heinrich Klaasen vs Nathan Lyon

Heinrich Klaasen's ability to attack spin will be tested against Nathan Lyon's control and variations. The matchup could be significant in both the middle overs of the ODIs and the spin-bowling phases of the Tests.

Why the Australia vs South Africa Series 2026 Is Important

The Australia vs South Africa series carries importance across both formats.

The three-Test series forms part of the 2025–2027 World Test Championship cycle. Both teams will be looking to collect valuable WTC points during a campaign that includes three matches in South Africa. This series marks Australia's return to South Africa for a red-ball bilateral series after the 2018 tour. The return adds another chapter to a rivalry that has produced several memorable contests.

The ODI series gives both teams an opportunity to assess their white-ball combinations before turning their attention to the longer format. 

The month-long tour provides both teams with opportunities to test their squads across different South African venues. The combination of three ODIs, a tour match, and three Tests makes the Australia vs South Africa campaign one of the more extensive bilateral assignments on the 2026 international calendar.

Watch Australia vs South Africa Live on tapmad

Cricket fans can follow Australia vs South Africa live on tapmad, subject to broadcast availability in their region. Check tapmad for live streaming availability, match timings, and coverage updates throughout the Australia tour of South Africa 2026.