Basketball
AFL
Cricket
Horse Racing
NRL
Soccer
Tennis
All Sports
American Football
Boxing
Betting Masterclass
eSports
Golf
Greyhounds
Motor Sport
Rugby Union
UFC / MMA
Australia's tour of South Africa is the biggest assignment of their 2026 away calendar: three ODIs then three Tests carrying World Test Championship points. Here's the full schedule, what each venue does to a touring side, and the betting angles.
Australia’s tour of South Africa is the biggest assignment of their 2026 away calendar: three ODIs followed by a three-Test series across September and October 2026, with the Tests counting towards the ICC World Test Championship. Below is the full schedule, what the conditions do to a touring side, and the betting angles for both formats.
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
Australia v South Africa 2026 ODI schedule
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI ✅ | Thursday 24 September 2026 (South Africa won by 67 runs) | Kingsmead, Durban |
| 2nd ODI | Sunday 27 September 2026 | The Wanderers, Johannesburg |
| 3rd ODI | Wednesday 30 September 2026 | JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom |
1st ODI result: South Africa win by 67 runs
South Africa batted first and made 297 for 8. Matthew Breetzke top-scored with 112 off 106 balls before he was run out in the 48th over, and Marco Jansen hit 75 off 59 in a 107-run stand for the sixth wicket. Nathan Ellis took 3 for 57 and Adam Zampa 2 for 50.
Australia started the chase quickly, Mitchell Marsh making 60 off 36 as the openers put on 90 inside ten overs, but South Africa’s spinners took over from there. Keshav Maharaj finished with 4 for 20 from 9.2 overs and Bjorn Fortuin 2 for 34, and Australia were all out for 230 in the 42nd over. For the rest of the series, the lesson is the one this page opened with: do not price this like a home series. Losing Ngidi and Baartman did not blunt South Africa’s attack, because the damage came from spin.
Australia v South Africa 2026 Test schedule
| Test | Dates | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | 9–13 October 2026 | Kingsmead, Durban |
| 2nd Test | 18–22 October 2026 | St George’s Park, Gqeberha |
| 3rd Test | 27–31 October 2026 | Newlands, Cape Town |
What makes South Africa a hard tour
This is the toughest away Test assignment in world cricket outside India, and the three venues could hardly be more different.
Kingsmead, Durban is coastal and humid, and it swings. Overhead conditions can dominate a session and first-innings collapses are common. St George’s Park, Gqeberha is the slowest and lowest of the three and the one ground where spin genuinely comes into play. Newlands, Cape Town is the most seam-friendly, and its pitches have produced some remarkably short Tests in recent years.
The Wanderers, hosting the second ODI, sits at altitude in Johannesburg, the ball flies and it is the most batting-friendly white-ball venue on the tour.
Team news
Pat Cummins is Australia’s nominal ODI captain, but the role is a job-share with Mitch Marsh and Cummins, who landed in Durban less than 72 hours before the series, is not expected to play the first ODI. Marsh leads the side at Kingsmead, with Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood in the attack. Temba Bavuma leads South Africa. Australia come straight from Zimbabwe, where they won the ODI series 3-0 but needed the last ball and the last wicket to complete it, Josh Inglis making 103 in the decider.
Josh Inglis is out of the last two ODIs with a fractured right index finger, suffered in the field in Durban, and has flown home for scans that will decide whether he is fit for the Test series. Alex Carey comes back in to keep wicket at the Wanderers.
South Africa have lost two seamers from their ODI squad to hamstring injuries: Ottneil Baartman, replaced by Duan Jansen, and Lungi Ngidi, ruled out on 18 September and replaced by Nqobani Mokoena. Losing Ngidi in particular thins a home attack that would otherwise be the main argument for South Africa in the white-ball leg. It is worth checking the final XIs before the first ball at Kingsmead, because that ground rewards seam more than any of the ODI venues.
Betting angles
Do not price this like a home series. Australia are formidable at home, but their away record in South Africa is a different question entirely. Series markets here are far closer than an Australian punter’s instinct suggests.
Venue-specific totals are the edge. With three grounds this distinct, blanket total-runs assumptions are the fastest way to lose money. Newlands and Durban favour bowlers; Gqeberha rewards patience; the Wanderers rewards batters.
Short-Test risk is real. Newlands in particular has produced Tests that finished inside three days. That matters for any market priced on the match going the distance.
WTC context shapes intent. Because these Tests carry World Test Championship points, neither side will be playing for a draw, which pushes toward results rather than stalemates. Compare markets at our best cricket betting sites.
How to watch in Australia
South Africa is eight hours behind AEST, so play starts in the Australian evening rather than overnight, a Test day beginning at 10:00am local is roughly 6:00pm AEST, and the ODIs land similarly. It is one of the better away tours for Australian viewers. Broadcast details are usually confirmed close to the first match.
Australia v South Africa FAQs
When do Australia tour South Africa in 2026?
Australia play three ODIs from 24 to 30 September 2026, then three Tests from 9 to 31 October 2026.
Where are the Tests played?
Kingsmead in Durban (9–13 October), St George’s Park in Gqeberha (18–22 October) and Newlands in Cape Town (27–31 October).
Do these Tests count for the World Test Championship?
Yes. The three-Test series forms part of the ICC World Test Championship cycle, so both sides are playing for points as well as the series.
What time is the cricket in Australia?
South Africa is eight hours behind AEST, so a 10:00am local start is around 6:00pm AEST, evening viewing rather than overnight.
Are Australia favourites in South Africa?
Less clearly than at home. South Africa are formidable in their own conditions and the three venues suit different skills, so series markets are closer than many Australian punters expect.
More cricket content
- Australia v Zimbabwe 2026 ODI series: the tour immediately before this one
- Australia v Bangladesh 2026 Test series
- Australia v New Zealand Test series: the home summer
- The Ashes · International cricket hub
- Cricket tips hub · Best cricket betting sites
Responsible gambling: Gamble responsibly. For free and confidential support call Gambling Help on 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au. 18+ only.