Australia To Tour South Africa For The First Time Since Sandpaper Gate Incident

Australia set to tour South Africa [Source: X]

After seven-long years, Australia is set to tour South Africa for a Test series, and this will be the first time the two sides will collide in South Africa after the infamous Sandpaper Gate incident. Cricket South Africa on Monday revealed their 2026-27 international home schedule, and announced the much-anticipated Australia series.

The hosts will battle against Australia in the ODIs, and it will be followed by a gruelling Test series between the WTC champions and the visitors. South Africa, for the last seven years has waited to take revenge against the Aussies, after what transpired during the last tour in 2018.

Australia's tour of South Africa 2026 full schedule

ODI Series 

First ODI: September 24, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban

Second ODI: September 27, Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Third ODI: September 30, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom (D/N)

Warmup Match 

October 3-4, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom

Test Series

First Test: October 9-13, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban

Second Test: October 18-22, St George’s Park, Gqeberha

Third Test: October 27-31, Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town

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Why this is a revenge series for South Africa

It was in 2018 when Australia last toured South Africa, and it turned out to be the most controversial tour in cricket history. During the third Test match in Cape Town, three Australian players, Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft, were involved in a cheating scandal, called “the sandpaper gate”.

During the third Test match in Cape Town, Bancroft was caught using a Yellow substance on the red ball to alter its condition. Warner was the mastermind behind the plan, and Smith was aware of the situation.

Cameras caught Bancroft using an illegal object on the ball, and the umpires immediately intervened as the three players received severe punishment.

Cricket Australia banned Warner and Steve Smith for 12 months, while Bancroft was suspended for nine months by the board. This incident tarnished the relationship between the two nations, and the series was forever remembered as a dark cloud in the gentlemen's game.

In the same series, Australia’s David Warner was involved in an ugly fight with Proteas keeper, Quinton de Kock, and the two players almost collided. Both players were punished and given demerit points by the ICC.

As a result, the Aussies never toured South Africa for a Test series, but that all changes this year.

The importance of this series in terms of WTC

Currently, both Australia and South Africa are fighting for a place in the WTC 2025-27 finals. In the ongoing cycle, Australia sits at the top of the table with 7 wins in eight matches, and a win percentage of 87.50.

South Africa, on the other hand occupy the third spot, having won 3 out of four games, and a win percentage of 75.00. This series holds utmost importance in terms of the WTC finale race.

With New Zealand also in the scheme of things to reach the finals, the winner of the Australia-South Africa series could potentially decide the second finalist.

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