Australia and South Africa begin their first Test series since the sandpaper scandal of 2018, with the opening match starting on October 9 at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban. This clash pits the top two teams in the World Test Championship standings against each other, eight years after a scandal that shook Australian cricket to its foundations and nearly three years after South Africa defeated Australia in the previous WTC final.
The weight of history hangs over this series. In January 2018, Cameron Bancroft was caught using sandpaper to alter the ball at Newlands, an act that exposed deep cultural problems within the Australian team. The incident led to bans for Bancroft, David Warner and captain Steve Smith, while the fallout reshaped Australian cricket for years. Now, as Australia returns to South Africa for the first time since losing that infamous 3-1 series, the team arrives under new leadership determined to move beyond that chapter.
Pat Cummins now captains Australia, with Smith, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon forming the core of a squad seeking redemption. For South Africa, Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram and Keshav Maharaj return as skipper and senior players, having also featured in that 2018 series. Both teams carry players who lived through that turbulent period.
What makes this series significant?
Beyond settling old scores, both teams are pursuing a third consecutive World Test Championship final appearance. Australia's path includes a home series against New Zealand and tours of India and England across the next 20 Tests. A return to the WTC final would validate the cultural transformation under Cummins and cement his leadership legacy.
South Africa has momentum from recent success. The Proteas won the last WTC cycle, defeated Zimbabwe 2-0, drew 1-1 in Pakistan and swept India in a historic two-Test series last year. However, this represents their first red-ball international in more than 10 months and their first home Test since January 2025, making match fitness a potential concern.
When does play begin?
The first ball will be bowled at 9:30am local time on October 9, or 6:30pm AEDT for Australian viewers. According to Cricket Australia's match schedule, the Test runs through October 13. The match is Test No. 2637 in the official record, marking another chapter in this storied rivalry.
For Australian audiences, the series is being broadcast live and exclusively on Fox Cricket, with streaming available on Kayo Sports.
What happens next in the series?
The second Test is scheduled for October 18–22 at St George's Park in Gqeberha, followed by the third Test from October 27–31 at Newlands in Cape Town. That final match returns to the ground where the sandpaper incident occurred, adding another layer of symbolism to Australia's attempt to rewrite the narrative of their relationship with South African cricket.
Key Facts
- This is Australia's first Test series in South Africa since losing 3-1 in 2018, when the ball-tampering scandal occurred
- Both teams are pursuing a third consecutive World Test Championship final appearance
- South Africa has not played a home Test since January 2025, a gap of more than 10 months
- The three-Test series takes place at Kingsmead (Durban), St George's Park (Gqeberha) and Newlands (Cape Town)
- The opening Test runs from October 9–13, with play beginning at 9:30am local time
