After eight long years, Australia will compete against South Africa in an away Test series. The last series, played in 2018, saw controversy erupt after the sandpaper was used for ball tampering in Cape Town. David Warner and Quinton de Kock nearly came to blows in a tense confrontation during the same tour.
A lot of water has flown under the bridge since then, and Steve Smith is the only player remaining from the trio involved in the controversy. The Aussies will be without Cameron Green, who injured himself while batting in the third ODI game. The series is also key for Marnus Labuschagne, who has been woefully out of form with the bat.
South Africa are missing some key players, with Kagiso Rabada ruled out of the series opener. The home team is second in the World Test Championship and hasn’t played the five-day format for nearly a year since their successful tour of India in late 2025.
Details of the SA vs AUS Match
Match: South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test
Date and Time: 9th to 13th October 2026, 1:00 PM IST
Venue: Kingsmead, Durban
Broadcast and Live Streaming: Eurosport Network and FanCode App
Kingsmead Pitch report
The venue is set to host its 47th Test match, and the game couldn’t have been bigger. It is a wicket where the captain will want to bat first. The average first-innings score is just above 300, while the fourth innings score on average is just above 200. New ball bowlers will get a lot of help early in the game. Days two and three will be the best time to bat as the spinners could come into play later in the game.
SA vs AUS Head-to-Head
Matches – 102
Australia – 54
South Africa – 27
Drawn Games – 21
SA vs AUS: Playing XIs
South Africa – Aiden MarkramRyan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (C), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, Maro Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Anrich Nortje, Keshav Maharaj, and Simon Harmer.
Australia – Travis HeadMatt Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Cooper Connolly, Alex Carey, Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (C), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon.
SA vs AUS: Predicted best performers of the match.
Best Batter – Steve Smith
One of the best players of the modern era, Steve Smith has been at the top of his game in the last few years. The batter has played 13 Tests against South Africa, scoring 933 runs AT an average of 43, with two centuries and five half-centuries. The batter has also done well in South Africa, amassing 411 runs from 10 Tests.
Best bowler – Keshav Maharaj
Veteran spinner Keshav Maharaj has picked up a total of 218 wickets from 62 matches so far. The left-arm spinner has played ten Tests against the Aussies and claimed 23 wickets with one fifer. In four Tests at Durban, the bowler has claimed 21 wickets with two fifers.
Who will win the SA vs AUS 1st Test?
South Africa and Australia are even as far as skills and talent are concerned, but one feels that the visitors hold the edge as far as the first Test is concerned. Their bowling attack is more powerful than the home team’s, and the experience of Lyon on the fourth and fifth-day wickets can be crucial.