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England in South Africa: Dates confirmed for three-Test series against world champions over Christmas and New Year

Monday 23 February 2026 13:50, UK

Joe Root captaining England to a 3-1 series victory on their last Test tour to South Africa in 2019/20
Image: Joe Root captained England to a 3-1 series victory on their last Test tour to South Africa in 2019/20

England will face world champions South Africa in a three-Test series over Christmas and New Year before three ODIs in early 2027, but a proposed T20 series has been postponed.

The Test series will commence on December 17 at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg before moving to Centurion for the second Test starting on Boxing Day at SuperSport Park.

Cape Town will host the final Test at Newlands Cricket Ground from January 3, 2027.

England secured a 3-1 series victory on their last Test tour to South Africa in 2019/20 as they came from 1-0 down in the four-match series.

England were 3-1 series winners on their last Test tour to South Africa in 2019/20
Image: England secured victories in Cape Town, Gqeberha and Johannesburg on their last Test tour to South Africa in 2019/20

The 2026/27 Test series will be followed by three ODIs, starting on January 10 at Boland Park in Paarl, but the originally planned T20 series has been removed due to scheduling conflicts with South Africa's domestic T20 league the SA20.

Australia to tour South Africa in October

England's tour to South Africa will be preceded by Australia visiting for three Tests, starting ‌on October 9 in Durban.

It will be the first Test series in the country between the two nations since the infamous 2018 series when then captain Steve Smith admitted his side ⁠had used sandpaper to ⁠tamper with the ball.

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They will also play Tests in ‌Gqeberha and Cape Town, which will follow a three-match ODI series between the ‌sides.

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Kagiso Rabada had previously expressed disappointment South Africa didn’t play any Test cricket in their home summer and had urged administrators to ensure the sport remains a truly global game

Bangladesh will also tour South Africa for two Tests in Johannesburg and Pretoria in November where they too will play three ODIs and three ⁠T20 Internationals.

This comes ahead of South ⁠Africa co-hosting the 2027 Cricket World Cup with Namibia and Zimbabwe, with that tournament scheduled to be played between October and November next year.

England's 2026/27 tour of South Africa:

Test series:

  • First Test: Wanderers, Johannesburg (Tuesday December 17 - Saturday December 21)
  • Second Test: SuperSport Park, Centurion (Thursday December 26 - Monday December 30)
  • Third Test: Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town (Sunday January 3 - Thursday January 7)

ODI series:

  • First ODI: Boland Park, Paarl (Sunday January 10)
  • Second ODI: Manguang Oval, Bloemfontein (Wednesday January 13)
  • Third ODI: Manguang Oval, Bloemfontein (Friday January 15)

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