As one of the teams with a lot of tours postponed and rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, South Africa have a fairly busy schedule in 2021. Here’s a look at South Africa cricket schedule for 2021.
South Africa are scheduled to play six Tests (excluding the cancelled games of the Australia series), 12 ODIs and 12-15 T20Is this year. Their 2021 began with a Test against Sri Lanka at home, before travelling to Pakistan for two World Test Championship Tests and three T20Is. They host England, Netherlands and Ireland in the middle of the year, before travelling to India for a bilateral tour, followed by the T20 World Cup. South Africa’s 2021 ends with another bilateral series against India, this time at home.
Note: A few tournaments below are based on the ICC 2018-2023 FTP and reports, but are yet to be confirmed by individual boards.
Sri Lanka in South Africa (January)
One Test in 2021
Sri Lanka’s two-Test tour of South Africa was split across two years, with the first match taking place in December 2020 and the second in January 2021. South Africa won the second Test by 10 wickets, tying the World Test Championship series 1-1.
South Africa in Pakistan (January-February)
Two Tests, three T20Is
The tour began with a Test series as a part of the ICC World Test Championship. Pakistan won both games. The three T20Is will be played between February 11 and 14, all at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. This is the first time the Proteas will play T20I cricket on Pakistan soil.
Australia in South Africa (February) Cancelled
Three Tests
Australia’s last-minute cancellation of the South Africa tour has added a hole in their schedule for February. CSA expressed their disappointment with the decision.
England in South Africa (March)
Three ODIs, three T20Is
England are set to tour South Africa for the third time in two years. Their tour of South Africa in December 2020 was postponed midway after COVID-19 cases emerged in the bio bubble. This series is set to kick off the Cricket World Cup Super League for the Proteas.
South Africa in Ireland (June)
Three ODIs, three T20Is
South Africa will tour Ireland for the first time since 2007, in just the second ODI series between the two sides. While they played a one-off ODI in Benoni in 2016, but their last bilateral ODI series was held in the 2007 tour. South Africa and Ireland have only played ODI cricket before; their first T20I against each other will be played on this tour.
Netherlands in South Africa (September)
Three ODIs
This will be Netherlands’ first tour of South Africa. The teams last played ODI cricket in a one-off game in Amstelveen in 2013, which South Africa won by 83 runs. They have a 5-0 record against Netherlands in all formats.
South Africa in India (October)
Three ODIs, three T20Is
South Africa travel to the subcontinent in October, building up to the T20 World Cup to be hosted by India later in the month. The Proteas last travelled to India in 2019 for a full tour. The two teams have played 15 T20Is together, with India leading the head-to-head 9-6. South Africa have a positive record against India in ODIs though, winning 46 out of 84 games.
ICC T20 World Cup 2021 (October-November)
South Africa are one of the nine teams to have already qualified for the 2021 T20 World Cup. They made the semifinals of the tournament in 2009 and 2014. They were knocked out in the Super 10 round in the latest edition of the tournament, which was held in India in 2016.
India in South Africa (December)
Three Tests, three T20Is
India will travel to South Africa at the end of the year, four years after their last tour of the country. The tour is expected to extend into January 2021.
