South Africa are headed Down Under in August 2025 for a crucial six-match white-ball series against Australia. With the 2026 T20 World Cup and the 2027 ODI World Cup at home fast approaching, this tour offers the Proteas a vital opportunity to test depth, develop combinations, and blood new talent in unfamiliar conditions.
From the return of senior players to the exclusion of some big names, here’s everything you need to know about the series — dates, venues, squads, and selection talking points.
📅 South Africa in Australia – Full Schedule (2025)
🏏 T20I Series
- 1st T20I – Sunday, 10 August
📍 Darwin | 🕖 7:15 PM Local / 9:15 AM GMT - 2nd T20I – Tuesday, 12 August
📍 Darwin | 🕖 7:15 PM Local / 9:15 AM GMT - 3rd T20I – Saturday, 16 August
📍 Cairns | 🕖 7:15 PM Local / 9:15 AM GMT
🏏 ODI Series
- 1st ODI – Tuesday, 19 August
📍 Cairns | 🕑 2:30 PM Local / 4:30 AM GMT - 2nd ODI – Friday, 22 August
📍 Mackay | 🕑 2:30 PM Local / 4:30 AM GMT - 3rd ODI – Sunday, 24 August
📍 Mackay | 🕑 2:30 PM Local / 4:30 AM GMT
🧢 Captains & Squad Overview
- T20I captain: Aiden Markram
- ODI captain: Temba Bavuma
Both leaders return after injury and rest layoffs. Markram was rested for the Zimbabwe tour, while Bavuma missed the Tests with a hamstring issue sustained during the World Test Championship Final in June.
🇿🇦 South Africa Squads for the 2025 Australia Tour
✅ T20I Squad
Aiden Markram (c), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Prenelan Subrayen, Rassie van der Dussen
📌 Notable Inclusions:
- Rabada returns as pace spearhead
- Brevis and Pretorius rewarded for Zimbabwe form
- Rickelton and Stubbs reinforce the middle order
- Three spinners: Linde, Muthusamy, Peter – Shamsi left out
📌 Missing: Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi
✅ ODI Squad
Temba Bavuma (c), Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Senuran Muthusamy, Keshav Maharaj, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Prenelan Subrayen
📌 Notable Inclusions:
- Maharaj returns to bolster the spin unit
- Bosch and Mulder offer all-round depth
- Stubbs and Rickelton bring firepower in middle overs
- Breetzke and de Zorzi get extended looks
📌 Missing: Marco Jansen (thumb surgery), David Miller (playing in The Hundred), Rassie van der Dussen (rested)
🧠 Key Talking Points
🔁 A Changing of the Guard
This squad is the last to be selected by all-format coach Shukri Conrad before Patrick Moroney assumes his role as new convenor of selectors on August 1. Conrad has taken this chance to test the next generation.
“With the 50-over [team], because I’ve got time before 2027, it gives me the opportunity to blood new players and see how they develop,” Conrad said.
😬 Shamsi’s Future in Limbo
Tabraiz Shamsi was left out again despite being South Africa’s leading white-ball spinner over the last 5 years. Conrad admitted he was meant to discuss Shamsi’s future but hadn’t yet had the conversation — a potential sign of the team moving on.
🤕 Injury Watch
- Marco Jansen is recovering from thumb surgery sustained at the WTC final.
- David Miller is prioritizing franchise cricket and will return later in the season.
🏟️ Where Are the Matches Being Played?
Unusually, all games will be held in regional Australia, with Darwin, Cairns, and Mackay hosting the tour.
This decision reflects Cricket Australia’s push to grow the game in the north, and South Africa will need to adapt to conditions that are humid, spin-friendly, and often slower than traditional venues like the MCG or SCG.
🔮 Why This Tour Matters
With less than 12 months to go until the 2026 T20 World Cup, and the 2027 ODI World Cup being hosted by South Africa, this tour is more than just a warm-up — it’s an audition for the big stage. The Proteas are balancing experienced campaigners with next-gen prospects in a bid to end their ICC title drought.
Leave a Reply