Australia Tour of South Africa 2026 Complete Schedule & Results
The Australia Tour of South Africa 2026 features a six-match international tour beginning with a three-match One Day International (ODI) series from 24 September to 30 September, followed by a three-match Test series in October as part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27.
The ODI leg will see Australia and South Africa meet in Durban, Johannesburg and Potchefstroom before the teams return to action in October for three Tests. The tour brings together the two finalists from the previous World Test Championship, when South Africa defeated Australia at Lord's in June 2025.
With the 2027 Men's Cricket World Cup approaching, the ODI series also provides both teams with important 50-over preparation, while the Test series carries significant WTC points.
Australia Tour of South Africa 2026 Schedule & Results
| Date | Match | Match Result | Prediction |
|---|---|---|---|
09/10/2026 07:30 AM | South Africa vs Australia | - | |
18/10/2026 08:00 AM | South Africa vs Australia | - | |
27/10/2026 08:00 AM | South Africa vs Australia | - |
Understanding the Australia Tour of South Africa 2026 Format
The tour combines two very different formats, beginning with three ODIs before moving into a three-match Test series.
The ODI leg will be particularly important as both teams prepare for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027, which will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The three matches provide both sides with an opportunity to assess combinations, player roles and conditions ahead of the tournament.
The Test series has additional importance because all three matches form part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27. South Africa and Australia were the two finalists in the previous WTC cycle, with South Africa winning the 2025 Final at Lord's.
The contrasting formats should create two distinct phases to the tour. The ODIs will emphasise scoring rates, fielding and limited-overs bowling plans, while the Tests will require patience, workload management and adaptation over five days.
And if you’re looking for match-by-match predictions ahead of each game, check out our Today’s Match Prediction section.
Key Elements of the Australia Tour of South Africa 2026 Fixtures
Australia will arrive in South Africa with a strong ODI squad as they continue preparations for the 2027 World Cup. Mitchell Marsh will captain the side, with Travis Head, Josh Hazlewood, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Adam Zampa and other established players involved in the tour. Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc are included for the South Africa portion of the tour and are expected to be available for the ODI series before the Test campaign.
South Africa have recalled several experienced players for the ODI series. Temba Bavuma will captain the Proteas, with Aiden Markram, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Quinton de Kock, Keshav Maharaj and others included in the squad.
There have been some late changes to South Africa's ODI squad. Kagiso Rabada and Ottneil Baartman have been ruled out with injuries, while Duan Jansen was called into the squad as Baartman's replacement. Lungi Ngidi was subsequently ruled out with a hamstring injury and replaced by Nqobani Mokoena.
The Test series should provide another significant contest, particularly given the history between the teams and the importance of the matches to the WTC standings.
Match Timings
The three ODIs are scheduled as daytime matches, with the first ODI at Kingsmead on 24 September, the second at the Wanderers on 27 September, and the third at JB Marks Oval on 30 September.
For viewers in India, the published match information corresponds to afternoon viewing, with the exact start time varying according to the venue and local schedule.
The Test matches begin on 9 October, 18 October, and 27 October respectively. Test start times can vary by venue, so supporters should check the latest fixture information before each match.
Want current betting lines? Check out our cricket betting odds page.
Venue Distribution
The ODI series will be played across three South African venues.
The opening ODI takes place at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium in Durban on 24 September. The second ODI moves to the DP World Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on 27 September, before the series concludes at JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom on 30 September.
The Test series then moves through three additional venues. The first Test will be played at Kingsmead in Durban from 9 to 13 October. The second Test is scheduled for Dafabet St George's Park in Gqeberha from 18 to 22 October, while the third and final Test will be played at World Sports Betting Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town from 27 to 31 October.
The tour therefore takes the teams across several major South African cricket centres and provides a variety of conditions between the limited-overs and Test legs.
For a deep dive into each venue, see our cricket grounds page.
South Africa vs Australia Scheduling
The tour is spread across more than five weeks, beginning with the opening ODI on 24 September and concluding with the third Test on 31 October.
The ODI schedule is:
- 24 September: 1st ODI – Durban
- 27 September: 2nd ODI – Johannesburg
- 30 September: 3rd ODI – Potchefstroom
The Test schedule then follows:
- 9-13 October: 1st Test – Durban
- 18-22 October: 2nd Test – Gqeberha
- 27-31 October: 3rd Test – Cape Town
The gap between the ODI and Test series gives both teams time to change formats, manage player workloads and prepare for the longer red-ball contest. The Test matches are also spaced with several days between fixtures, allowing players to recover and teams to make tactical adjustments.
How to Use Today’s Australia Tour of South Africa 2026 Match Information
If you’re following the series (and particularly if you’re placing bets), using the complete cricket schedule matters a lot. For each fixture you’ll find:
- Match dates and start times in your local time zone.
- Full team line-ups including captains and key players.
- Pitch reports, weather updates and venue-specific factors that could impact play.
- Head-to-head records or format-specific insights
- Live scores and written ball-by-ball commentary for real-time updates.
To brush up on your cricket rules and formats before making your bets, why not check out our cricket guides?
Stay Connected With the Complete Australia Tour of South Africa Action
The Australia Tour of South Africa 2026 promises an important multi-format contest between two of the leading teams in international cricket.
The ODI series will form part of both teams' preparations for the 2027 Men's Cricket World Cup, while the subsequent three-Test series carries significant World Test Championship implications. The two sides also have recent history in the format, having contested the 2025 WTC Final at Lord's.
The tour moves through Durban, Johannesburg and Potchefstroom for the ODIs before returning to Durban and travelling to Gqeberha and Cape Town for the Test matches. This provides both teams with a broad range of South African conditions across the six fixtures.
Stay with OCBSports throughout the tour for expert match predictions, betting tips, live scores, team news, pitch reports, and in-depth pre-match analysis. Whether you're following the opening ODI in Durban or the Test series finale in Cape Town, we'll provide complete coverage from the first ball to the final result.
