South Africa to Host Australia for Three T20Is, Five ODIs Ahead of the 2023 ODI World Cup

Australia to travel to South Africa for 8-match white-ball series ahead of their preparations for the 2023 ODI World Cup

Australia travel to South Africa for an eight-match white-ball tour this year, including three Twenty20 matches and five one-day internationals (ODIs) in preparation for the 50-over World Cup in India, officials confirmed on Friday. The series will commence from August 30 to September 17 for three T20Is and five ODIs, confirmed Cricket South Africa (CSA).

Under the leadership of a new captain for the T20I series, Australia will play all the T20I matches at the Kingsmead Stadium in Durban on August 30, September 1, and 3. The five-match ODI series will get underway at Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on September 7 and 9, before the third ODI is played at JB Marks Oval on September 12. The caravan will then shift to SuperSport Park to play the fourth ODI on September 15, with the final match of the 50-over series to be played at Wanderers Stadium on September 17.

South Africa vs Australia schedule:

1st T20I - 30th August, 2023, DURBAN

2nd T20I - 1st September, 2023, DURBAN

3rd T20I - 3rd September, 2023, DURBAN

1st ODI - 7th September, 2023 - BLOEMFONTEIN

2nd ODI - 9th September, 2023 - BLOEMFONTEIN

3rd ODI - 12th September, 2023 - POTCHEFSTROOM

4th ODI - 15th September, 2023 - CENTURION

5th ODI - 17th September, 2023 - JOHANNESBURG

It is the first white-ball tour to the country by Australia since 2020 and follows South Africa’s withdrawal from an ODI series in Australia last January when they prioritized the launch of their domestic T20 league. Having forfeited that series, South Africa have yet to seal their place at the World Cup in October but will do so if Ireland fail to complete a clean-sweep of their three-match series against Bangladesh, which starts in Chelmsford next week.

“Games and tours like these against a formidable Australia side can only do good for our Proteas Men. It is also an opportunity for coach Rob Walter and his team to keep building on the excellent work they have already done so far together. We look forward to watching them play and we hope that South Africans will come out in their numbers and get behind the team in what should be a highly competitive tour," said Pholetsi Moseki, Chief Executive Officer, CSA.

Australia to set foot on the shores of South Africa after 3 years

The last time South Africa played Australia at their home was back in 2020. The hosts were deflated 2-1 in the T20I series but they bounced back and thrashed the Kangaroos 3-0 in the ODI series. Heinrich Klaasen was the leading run-scorer in the ODI series with 242 runs to his name in three games. He scored two fifties and a century in the series.

On the bowling front, Lungi Ngidi was the highest wicket-taker, with nine wickets to his name in only two matches. While the Proteas will hope for a win in order to qualify for the ODI World Cup, Australia will also look for some answers ahead of the mega event.

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