All You Need to Know About Australia Tour of South Africa 2026

Two of the biggest cricketing giants, Australia and South Africa, are all set for a six-match series set to kick off with 3 ODIs followed by 3 Test matches. The series also marks Australia’s first Test tour of South Africa since the controversial 2018 series, that got overshadowed by the infamous David Warner, Steven Smith, and Cameron Bancroft’s ball-tampering scandal.

Australia Tour of South Africa 2026 Full Schedule

Here’s the full schedule of the Australia tour of South Africa 2026, comprising six games.

The Squads

Take a look at the complete squads of the two teams for both formats.

Australia

Test Squad: Pat Cummins (C), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (WK), Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (WK), Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.

• Pat Cummins will be leading the 16-man ODI squad of the Aussies.
• Marnus Labuschagne retained in Australia’s squad despite a prolonged lean patch in red‑ball cricket.
• The 32‑year‑old has not scored a century since July 2023 across formats.
• His recent Test series against Bangladesh saw scores of 1, 31, and 4, fueling doubts about his place.
• Josh Inglis has been added as a possible alternative for the No. 3 spot.
• Cooper Connolly, a left‑hander who debuted in Sri Lanka last year, returns to the squad.
• Inglis, usually Australia’s backup keeper in Tests, could be tried at No. 3.
• Left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann has been added to the squad as the second spinner. 

ODI Squad: Pat Cummins (C), Mitchell Marsh, Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Joel Davies, Jack Edwards, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa

• Pat Cummins returns to the ODI fold to lead the side in this series.
• The 33-year-old last featured in an ODI way back in November 2024.
• Fast bowler Jack Edwards is in line to make his ODI debut after being added to the squad as an injury replacement for right-arm pacer Billy Stanlake.
• Billy Stanlake suffered a side strain during the recently concluded ODI series against Zimbabwe.
• Along with Billy, left-arm pacer Spencer Johnson has been released from the squad despite featuring in two of the three ODIs against Zimbabwe.
• Spencer, who returned to ODI cricket after an 18-month gap, will join the Australia A squad for their three 50-over games in Puducherry next month against India A.

South Africa

Test Squad: Yet to be announced

ODI Squad: Temba Bavuma (C), 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

• The hosts have announced a strong 16-man squad for this series, led by the ever-so-inspirational skipper Temba Bavuma.
• Last-minute injuries have definitely shaken the Proteas campaign.
• The experienced pace duo of Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada, along with budding pacer Ottneil Baartman, have been ruled out due to hamstring injuries.
• Gerald Coetzee replaced Kagiso Rabada in the squad, whereas Nqobani Mokoena, the 20-year-old quick, has been added in Ngidi’s place.
• Marco Jansen’s twin brother, Duan Jansen, has replaced Ottneil Baartman in the squad.
• Despite not being under CSA’s central contract, David Miller and Quinton de Kock have been named in the ODI squad.