Australia vs South Africa 2026: Full Schedule, Squads, Live Streaming & TV Channels

Australia’s long-awaited tour of South Africa is finally here, and it carries more weight than any bilateral series in recent memory. This is the first time the two sides have met in Test cricket since South Africa defeated Australia in the 2025 ICC World Test Championship final at The Oval. It is also Australia’s first Test tour of South Africa since the infamous 2018 “sandpaper-gate” series a trip that ended in suspensions, scandal, and a strained relationship between two proud cricketing nations.

The tour spans September and October 2026, beginning with three One-Day Internationals before shifting to a three-match Test series that forms part of the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship cycle. For cricket fans across the globe, this is appointment viewing.

This guide covers everything you need: the complete match schedule with venues and start times, confirmed squads for both teams, and most importantly exactly where and how to watch every ball legally, region by region.

Where to Watch Australia vs South Africa 2026: Official Live Streaming & TV Channels

This tour is not available on free-to-air television in Australia. Every match is exclusive to Fox Cricket, with streaming via Kayo Sports. If you are in Australia and want to watch legally, Kayo is your only option.

SuperSport holds the broadcast rights for all men’s international matches hosted by Cricket South Africa through the end of the 2026–27 season. Streaming is available through DStv Stream.

Australia vs South Africa 2026 Full Schedule: ODI & Test Matches

The tour kicks off with three ODIs in late September, followed by three Tests in October. All timings below are listed in South African Standard Time (SAST), which is GMT+2.

ODI Series Schedule

The second ODI at the Wanderers carries special significance. It falls on the annual Dafabet Pink Day, one of the biggest occasions on South Africa’s cricket calendar. The Proteas will wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness, and the Wanderers is expected to be at full capacity. The third ODI in Potchefstroom is a day-night fixture, starting at 1:30 PM local time.

Test Series Schedule

The three Tests are crammed into just 22 days a condensed schedule that will test both squads’ depth and recovery. The series opener at Kingsmead marks Australia’s first red-ball match on South African soil in eight years.

Australia Squad for South Africa 2026

The headline omission is Marnus Labuschagne, who was dropped from the ODI squad after a sustained run of poor form. Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc return specifically for the South African leg, while Mitch Marsh and Travis Head come back into the fold after missing the Pakistan and Bangladesh series.

Australia ODI Squad

Mitchell Marsh, Pat Cummins (South Africa matches only), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc (South Africa matches only), Adam Zampa.

Australia Test Squad

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

Labuschagne retains his place in the Test squad despite pressure on his position. Selectors have shown faith in the 32-year-old, whose record in South Africa — the country of his birth — is strong. Both of his ODI centuries came on South African soil.

South Africa Squad for Australia 2026

Kagiso Rabada has been ruled out of the entire ODI series with a right hamstring injury and faces a race to be fit for the Tests. Lungi Ngidi was also ruled out of the ODI series. Aiden Markram will only be available for the second and third ODIs.

South Africa ODI Squad

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

Gerald Coetzee returns to the ODI setup for the first time since the 2023 World Cup. His pace and aggression could be a difference-maker on South African pitches.

What to Watch For

This is not just another bilateral series. Three storylines will define it.

First, the World Test Championship subtext. South Africa beat Australia in the 2025 WTC final. Australia have not forgotten. Every session of the Test series carries that weight.

Second, Australia’s return to South African soil. Only five players from the 2018 tour remain in the current Test squad. Steve Smith will face South African crowds for the first time since the ball-tampering scandal. The reception will be intense.

Third, the race for the 2027 ODI World Cup. With the tournament set to be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, this ODI series is a crucial staging post for both teams’ World Cup preparations. South Africa coach Shukri Conrad has described it as “an important step in shaping the squad.”

Frequently Asked Questions

This page is maintained by Zubair Shaikh, who tracks official broadcast and streaming rights across regions for TimeCric.

Last updated: 21 September 2026