England to begin white-ball tour of South Africa in November

England will play three IT20s and three ODIs from November 27

Image: White-ball captain Eoin Morgan, pictured with Jos Buttler (left), has predicted that players could withdraw from biosecure tours given the mental health challenges

England will play two white-ball series against South Africa from next month in bio-secure venues at Cape Town and Paarl.

The tour has received the green light after Cricket South Africa agreed travel exemptions for Eoin Morgan's squad with South Africa's government.

The teams will contest three IT20s from November 27, then face each other in three ODIs from December 4, with all of the matches played behind closed doors due to the on-going impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Tom Harrison, ECB's Chief Executive Officer, said: "We owe it to the sport that we do everything we can to keep international competition progressing during this pandemic.

"Series against the Proteas are always exciting and intense. We saw that earlier this year in South Africa and we can expect the same this time around."

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Highlights from the third and final T20I at Centurion as England chased down 223 to seal a 2-1 series victory against South Africa back in February

"This is a wonderful boost for cricket," commented CSA Acting Chief Executive Kugandrie Govender, at a time when South Africa's international future appears uncertain following the government's declared intention to intervene in cricketing affairs over concerns of mismanagement on the cricketing board.

"We are also very grateful to the England and Wales Cricket Board for the support they have given us in many areas and we will be able to draw on their own experiences and help in organising and running international cricket under bio-secure conditions.

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"This is a first for us and we commit to learn quickly and with great responsiveness as we have an action-packed international season ahead of us."

England's squad, which could contain up to 24 players, will train at Western Province Cricket Club and play three intra-squad practice matches - two T20s and one 50-over game - before the series starts.

The touring party squad will depart from London on a chartered flight on Monday, November 16 and be based in Cape Town thereafter.

The best of the action from the Wanderers in February where England beat South Africa in the third ODI

England men's Tour of South Africa

Monday 16 November: Touring party departs from London to Cape Town

Saturday 21 November: 50-over intra-squad practice match. Newlands, Cape Town.

Monday 23 November: Two T20 intra-squad practice matches. Boland Park, Paarl.

Friday 27 November: 1st IT20 South Africa v England, Newlands, Cape Town (6.00pm SAST)

Sunday 29 November: 2nd IT20 South Africa v England, Boland Park, Paarl (2.30pm SAST)

Tuesday 1 December: 3rd IT20 South Africa v England, Newlands, Cape Town (6.00pm SAST)

Friday 4 December: 1st ODI South Africa v England, Newlands, Cape Town (1.00pm SAST)

Sunday 6 December: 2nd ODI South Africa v England, Boland Park, Cape Town (10.00am SAST)

Wednesday 9 December: 3rd ODI South Africa v England, Newlands, Cape Town (1.00pm SAST)

Thursday 10 December: Touring party departs from Cape Town to London

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