After a bare 2025/2026 home season, South African cricket fans will be rewarded this season with a packed international summer.
The Proteas men face Australia, Bangladesh and England across three formats, with the schedule combining World Test Championship cricket, 2027 Cricket World Cup preparation and plenty of white-ball action.
The summer runs from 24 September 2026 through to 15 January 2027, with 21 home internationals scheduled across Durban, Johannesburg, Potchefstroom, Gqeberha, Cape Town, Centurion, East London, Kimberley, Benoni, Paarl and Bloemfontein.
The season is particularly significant because South Africa is defending its World Test Championship title while simultaneously preparing for the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be staged in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
South Africa v Australia
The opening assignment could hardly be more demanding. Australia are the reigning ODI World Cup champions and were South Africa's opponents in the 2025 World Test Championship Final, which the Proteas won by five wickets.
Australia arrives with considerable firepower. Travis Head remains one of the most dangerous attacking batters in world cricket, while captain Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green and Alex Carey provide plenty of depth. With Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood among the bowling options, South Africa will have little room for error.
Australia will want to banish the demons of its last Test series in South Africa, a highly controversial series in which Australia was found to be manipulating the ball with sandpaper and ultimately lost 3-1 as Steve Smith was stripped of the captaincy.
And despite losing 2-0 against Australia in the 2022/2023 Test series on Aussie soil, the Proteas will be buoyed by its recent Test form, which includes winning the Test Championship final.
Australia's aggressive approach can occasionally create opportunities for opponents, particularly if South Africa can expose gaps between their attacking intent and execution. The Proteas will aim to exploit home conditions as best as possible to place pressure on Australia's batting line-up that has shown a few cracks after the retirements of David Warner and Usman Khawaja.
Australia fixtures
|
Match |
Date |
Time (SAST) |
Venue |
|
1st ODI |
24 September |
10:00 |
Kingsmead, Durban |
|
2nd ODI |
27 September |
10:00 |
Wanderers, Johannesburg |
|
3rd ODI |
30 September |
13:30 |
JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom |
|
1st Test |
9–13 October |
09:30 |
Kingsmead, Durban |
|
2nd Test |
18–22 October |
10:00 |
St George's Park, Gqeberha |
|
3rd Test |
27–31 October |
10:00 |
Newlands, Cape Town |
South Africa v Bangladesh
Bangladesh arrive in November for an all-format tour. While Bangladesh has not been that competitive in previous tours to South Africa, especially in test match cricket, The Tigers will be full of confidence after shocking Australia on home soil and drawing the 2-match test series 1-1.
While Bangladesh will undoubtedly threaten with its spin bowlers in Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam, its pace bowling arsenal is more dangerous than ever before, with Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hussain excelling in the 1st test win against Australia.
In terms of batting, Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Towhid Hridoy give Bangladesh a mixture of experience and attacking ability, but every batter will aim to improve on lacklustre performances in previous SA tours.
Bangladesh's challenge will be adapting that skill to South African conditions. Its bowling attack can be particularly dangerous when conditions offer assistance, but South Africa's pace resources and home advantage should make this a fascinating contest. Bangladesh's batting depth will also be tested against a Proteas attack accustomed to exploiting bounce and movement.
Bangladesh fixtures
|
Match |
Date |
Time (SAST) |
Venue |
|
1st Test |
15–19 November |
10:00 |
Wanderers, Johannesburg |
|
2nd Test |
23–27 November |
10:00 |
SuperSport Park, Centurion |
|
1st ODI |
1 December |
13:30 |
Buffalo Park, East London |
|
2nd ODI |
4 December |
13:30 |
St George's Park, Gqeberha |
|
3rd ODI |
7 December |
13:30 |
Newlands, Cape Town |
|
1st T20I |
10 December |
18:00 |
Kimberley Oval, Kimberley |
|
2nd T20I |
12 December |
14:30 |
Willowmoore Park, Benoni |
|
3rd T20I |
13 December |
14:30 |
SuperSport Park, Centurion |
South Africa v England
The summer reaches its traditional festive-season climax when England arrives for three Tests and three ODIs. England’s form in both Tests and ODIs has been up and down of late, especially after losing the Ashes 4-1 and being beaten 2-1 by New Zealand at home.
However, England completed a 3-0 clean sweep of Pakistan under new coach Stephen Fleming and will come into the tour with newfound confidence. It’s batting, which has been defined in the last 4 years by the “bazball” approach of aggressive stroke-making, will be spearheaded by all-time great Joe Root and Harry Brook, who offers an aggressive counterpoint.
While retired captain Ben Stokes will be missed, Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith add further attacking options, while England’s fast bowlers will be confident of exploiting South African conditions thanks to a lineup that includes Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue.
England's willingness to attack can produce spectacular cricket, but it can also create opportunities for disciplined opposition attacks. South Africa will look to make the most of home conditions, particularly with their seamers operating at altitude in Johannesburg and Centurion.
England fixtures
|
Match |
Date |
Time (SAST) |
Venue |
|
1st Test |
17–21 December |
10:00 |
Wanderers, Johannesburg |
|
2nd Test |
26–30 December |
10:00 |
SuperSport Park, Centurion |
|
3rd Test |
3–7 January |
10:30 |
Newlands, Cape Town |
|
1st ODI |
10 January |
10:00 |
Boland Park, Paarl |
|
2nd ODI |
13 January |
13:30 |
Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein |
|
3rd ODI |
15 January |
10:00 |
Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein |
The festive Tests should be among the season's highlights, particularly the Boxing Day Test at Centurion and the New Year's Test at Newlands.
Key Proteas Players to Watch
Temba Bavuma remains an important presence at the top of the order and as Test captain, whileopener Aiden Markram offers experience across formats and the ability to influence matches with both bat and ball. Ryan Rickelton will be another player to watch closely, particularly after establishing himself as one of South Africa's important batting options. Marco Jansen provides the kind of all-round value that can change matches, combining left-arm pace with increasingly valuable batting ability.
Then there is the next wave. Dewald Brevis, Matthew Breetzke, Corbin Bosch and Kwena Maphaka have all been identified as important parts of South Africa's future, with Breetzke, Brevis and Bosch receiving maiden full national contracts for the new season.
David Bedingham will aim to reestablish himself in the Test side after being dropped, while Marques Ackerman will hope to get his chance to prove himself after years of toiling in first-class cricket. When fit and available, Kagiso Rabada remains one of the world's premier fast bowlers, while Keshav Maharaj provides a contrasting threat with his control and left-arm spin. South Africa's depth will be tested, however, with several quicks having already experienced injury concerns ahead of the Australia ODI series.
A Season With Plenty at Stake
This is more than simply a busy home summer. The Australia Tests contribute directly to South Africa's defence of the World Test Championship, while every ODI provides valuable preparation for the 2027 Cricket World Cup on home soil.
Australia will provide the immediate blockbuster challenge, Bangladesh will test the Proteas across all three formats, and England will bring the curtain down on a season packed with high-quality cricket. Don’t miss out on any of the action and Bet now on these matches at www.gbets.co.za