DURBAN, South Africa, October 8, 2026: Eight years have passed since Cameron Bancroft was caught rubbing sandpaper on a cricket ball at Newlands, Steve Smith lost the Australian captaincy, David Warner was suspended and one of Test cricket’s fiercest rivalries descended into a scandal that changed Australian cricket.
Australia are finally back.
Not for an ODI.
Not for a short white-ball visit.
For Test cricket.
And the team waiting for them is no longer trying to prove that it belongs among the elite.
South Africa are the reigning World Test Champions.
They beat Australia by five wickets at Lord’s in June 2025 to take the mace, with Aiden Markram’s 136 and Kagiso Rabada’s nine wickets defining one of the most important Test victories in South African history. (icc-cricket.com)
Australia arrive in South Africa sitting first in the current World Test Championship standings at 80 percent.
South Africa are second at 75 percent. (icc-cricket.com)
The first Test begins at Kingsmead on October 9.
The series then moves to Gqeberha.
The final Test returns Australia to Cape Town.
Newlands.
The same ground.
The same country.
A very different Australian team culture.
The memory, however, has not disappeared.
SuperSport has already reminded Australia that the cameras will be watching closely, reviving footage from the 2018 incident and telling followers that its cameras will be “sharp” for the three-match series.
Steve Smith, the captain in 2018, is the one member of the central trio still embedded in Australia’s Test batting lineup.
He should expect South African crowds to remind him of it.
Whether that reception unsettles him or sharpens one of the finest Test batters of his generation could become one of the fascinating subplots of the next three weeks.
South Africa vs Australia Test Series 2026 Schedule
| Test | Dates | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | October 9-13 | Kingsmead, Durban |
| 2nd Test | October 18-22 | St George’s Park, Gqeberha |
| 3rd Test | October 27-31 | Newlands, Cape Town |
The three matches form part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.
Why This Series Feels Bigger Than Three Tests
Australia and South Africa rarely need much help generating intensity.
Over the last 20 years, the teams have met in nine Test series.
They have won four each.
One was drawn.
The balance itself explains why these contests rarely feel ordinary. (icc-cricket.com)
Then there is everything layered on top.
South Africa beat Australia in the 2025 WTC Final.
Australia lead the current championship table.
South Africa sit immediately behind them.
Australia have not played a Test series in South Africa since 2018.
That tour ended 3-1 to the Proteas and was dominated by the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town.
South Africa’s 2018 victory was also historically significant. It was their first home Test series win over Australia since 1970. (icc-cricket.com)
Now the rivalry resumes with both sides again positioned among the best Test teams in the world.
Sandpapergate Is History, but South Africa Have Not Forgotten It
The 2018 series was hostile long before the sandpaper appeared.
There were confrontations.
Crowd taunts.
Player exchanges.
The tension kept escalating.
Then Bancroft was caught on television attempting to alter the condition of the ball.
Smith admitted involvement in the plan.
Warner was subsequently found by Cricket Australia to have been central to its development.
Smith and Warner received 12-month bans.
Bancroft received nine months. (icc-cricket.com)
Australia’s team culture changed significantly afterward.
Smith rebuilt his career.
Warner eventually retired.
Bancroft never regained a permanent place.
Pat Cummins became captain.
The current side carries itself very differently from the team that arrived in South Africa eight years ago.
The South African public, however, is unlikely to treat the return as a clean slate.
Newlands in particular should carry an edge when Australia arrive for the third Test.
Steve Smith May Get the Loudest Reception of the Tour
Smith will attract attention everywhere.
Cape Town will be different.
He remains the most visible surviving link to the leadership group of 2018.
There should be no expectation that South African supporters will ignore that history.
Boos are likely.
References to sandpaper are inevitable.
Every awkward television shot will probably invite another reaction.
The interesting question is how Smith responds.
His career has repeatedly shown that hostile environments can sharpen his concentration.
The 2019 Ashes followed immediately after his suspension ended.
He scored 774 runs in four Tests.
South Africa may hope the atmosphere becomes a burden.
Australia will trust Smith to turn it into fuel.
TSE recently examined another unusual technology-driven Smith controversy in Technology Saved Me: Steve Smith’s Frank Confession Overshadows Australia’s Collapse.
This series brings an entirely different kind of scrutiny.
South Africa Enter as World Champions, Not Emotional Underdogs
The strongest argument for South Africa is simple.
They already beat this Australian core when the biggest Test prize was on the line.
At Lord’s in 2025, Australia made 212 and 207.
South Africa recovered from a first-innings 138 and chased 282 to win by five wickets.
Aiden Markram scored 136.
Temba Bavuma made 66.
Rabada took nine wickets in the match.
South Africa ended a 27-year wait for a senior men’s ICC trophy.
The result changed how this team should be viewed.
For years, South African cricket carried a reputation for brilliant players without enough trophies.
The WTC Final broke that pattern.
Australia now arrive facing champions who know they can beat them under pressure.
South Africa Have Started the New WTC Cycle Strongly
South Africa’s current championship campaign has continued that momentum.
They sit second in the WTC table with:
4 Tests
3 wins
75 percent points percentage
They drew a series against Pakistan.
Then they went to India and won 2-0, their first Test series victory there in 25 years. (icc-cricket.com)
That away success matters.
Winning in India required a different skill set from winning at Lord’s.
It also showed South Africa can adapt their bowling attack beyond traditional pace-friendly conditions.
That becomes relevant immediately in Durban.
Australia Still Lead the World Test Championship
Australia’s current cycle has been even stronger.
They have played 10 Tests and won eight.
Their points percentage sits at 80.
Travis Head is their leading run-scorer in this WTC cycle with 914 runs.
Mitchell Starc leads their wicket-taking with 58 wickets. (icc-cricket.com)
They swept West Indies away.
They retained the Ashes.
Then Bangladesh exposed a weakness by winning the opening Test of their recent series in Australia.
Cummins’ side responded to win the second Test and square the contest 1-1.
That defeat was a reminder that this Australian team can still be disrupted.
It also explains why this series matters so much.
A poor tour of South Africa could quickly reduce the comfort Australia currently enjoy at the top of the table.
South Africa Squad: Pace Depth, Spin Strength and One Huge Rabada Question
South Africa’s squad gives Temba Bavuma almost every type of bowling option.
| Player | Role / Series Context |
|---|---|
| Temba Bavuma | Captain, middle-order batter |
| Aiden Markram | Opening/top-order batter, off-spin |
| Ryan Rickelton | Top-order batter, wicketkeeping option |
| Tristan Stubbs | Middle-order batter |
| David Bedingham | Middle-order batter |
| Kyle Verreynne | Wicketkeeper-batter |
| Wiaan Mulder | Seam-bowling all-rounder |
| Marco Jansen | Left-arm fast-bowling all-rounder |
| Corbin Bosch | Pace-bowling all-rounder |
| Keshav Maharaj | Left-arm spinner |
| Simon Harmer | Off-spinner |
| Senuran Muthusamy | Spin-bowling all-rounder |
| Kagiso Rabada | Fast bowler, fitness decision pending |
| Anrich Nortje | Fast bowler, Test comeback candidate |
| Gerald Coetzee | Fast bowler |
| Dane Paterson | Fast bowler |
| Marques Ackerman | Batting option |
The biggest issue is obvious.
Will Kagiso Rabada Play the First Test?
Rabada remains uncertain for Durban.
He has not played since May after suffering a right hamstring injury.
South Africa allowed him to train in Durban on Wednesday and plan to make the decision as late as necessary. (icc-cricket.com)
His importance cannot be overstated.
Rabada took nine wickets against Australia in the WTC Final.
He has 58 Test wickets against Australia at an average of 21.39.
If fit, he gives South Africa the most dangerous fast bowler in the series.
If he misses Durban, Australia’s chances improve immediately.
Anrich Nortje’s Test Return Could Change South Africa’s Pace Attack
Rabada’s uncertainty creates another possibility.
Nortje may play his first Test since 2023.
He has spent months preparing specifically for red-ball cricket and has spoken about building his bowling workload deliberately ahead of this series. (icc-cricket.com)
Nortje brings something different.
Raw pace.
Hard lengths.
A willingness to attack the body.
Jansen gives left-arm angle.
Coetzee offers aggression.
Paterson offers control.
Rabada, if available, gives everything.
South Africa have sufficient pace depth even without Lungi Ngidi, Kwena Maphaka and Ottneil Baartman, all of whom are unavailable while recovering from injuries.
Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer Could Be South Africa’s Hidden Advantage
Australia may have expected a traditional South African series dominated entirely by fast bowling.
Durban complicates that expectation.
Kingsmead can offer substantial assistance to spin as matches progress.
That makes Maharaj and Harmer extremely important.
Maharaj remains one of the most intelligent spinners in world cricket.
Harmer currently leads South Africa’s wicket-taking in the 2025-27 WTC cycle with 30 wickets.
Australia’s recent ODI series in South Africa also produced periods where slower bowling created problems after their batters had started quickly.
TSE examined one such collapse in Marsh Blasts Australia to 90/0, Then South Africa Turn a Runaway Chase Into a 67-Run Statement.
Different format.
Different pressure.
A relevant warning.
Australia Squad: Experience Everywhere, but the Batting Order Is Less Secure Than It Looks
Australia’s Test squad contains enormous experience.
| Player | Role / Series Context |
|---|---|
| Pat Cummins | Captain, fast bowler |
| Travis Head | Opener/top-order batter |
| Matthew Renshaw | Opening batter |
| Marnus Labuschagne | No. 3 batter |
| Steve Smith | Senior middle-order batter |
| Beau Webster | All-rounder |
| Cooper Connolly | Batter/spin all-rounder |
| Nic Maddinson | Batting cover |
| Alex Carey | Wicketkeeper-batter |
| Sam Harper | Reserve wicketkeeper |
| Josh Inglis | Recovering from fractured finger |
| Mitchell Starc | Left-arm fast bowler |
| Josh Hazlewood | Fast bowler |
| Scott Boland | Fast bowler |
| Michael Neser | Seam-bowling all-rounder |
| Nathan Lyon | Off-spinner |
| Matthew Kuhnemann | Left-arm spinner |
| Cameron Green | All-rounder, ruled out of first Test |
Australia have more established Test players than South Africa.
That does not mean the XI is completely settled.
Cameron Green’s Injury Removes One of Australia’s Best Balance Options
Green has been ruled out of the first Test because of an abdominal strain suffered during the ODI series. (icc-cricket.com)
He had been Australia’s leading run-scorer in their recent Test series against Bangladesh, producing a century and a fifty.
His absence weakens the batting.
It also complicates the balance.
Green was already not expected to bowl during this series because of his recent shoulder issues.
Australia therefore lose his batting without gaining the bowling flexibility that normally makes him so valuable.
Beau Webster should become even more important.
Cooper Connolly and Nic Maddinson are alternative batting options.
Josh Inglis’ Injury Adds Another Selection Complication
Inglis fractured his right index finger during the ODI series.
Sam Harper was subsequently added to the squad.
Inglis’ availability later in the series will depend on his recovery. (icc-cricket.com)
Alex Carey remains the first-choice wicketkeeper, so this does not destabilize the starting XI as much as Green’s absence.
It does reduce Australia’s flexibility.
Marnus Labuschagne May Have Saved His Place at Exactly the Right Time
Labuschagne arrived in South Africa under pressure.
His last Test century came more than three years ago.
TSE explored his selection battle in Labuschagne to Lead Queensland Ahead of South Africa Tests.
Then came the warm-up match.
Labuschagne made 111 from 89 balls against a Cricket South Africa Invitational XI.
Nineteen boundaries.
Good foot movement.
Better rhythm.
Exactly the innings he needed.
The ICC described the hundred as a performance likely to strengthen his position for Durban. (icc-cricket.com)
South African conditions remain a far greater examination.
Rabada, Jansen, Harmer and Maharaj will not bowl like a tour-match attack.
Labuschagne has bought himself confidence.
He has not removed the pressure.
Travis Head Gives Australia the Series’ Most Dangerous Momentum Batter
Head can change a Test before lunch.
That is his greatest value.
South Africa cannot allow him to settle into the type of counterattacking innings that has repeatedly broken strong bowling attacks.
Australia’s new opening arrangement also asks interesting questions.
Head wants to attack.
Renshaw may need to absorb pressure.
If South Africa bowl well with the new ball, Head’s aggression could either break the field open or expose Australia early.
There may be very little middle ground.
Australia’s Fast-Bowling Core Remains Their Greatest Strength
Cummins.
Starc.
Hazlewood.
Boland.
There may not be a stronger fast-bowling group in Test cricket.
Cummins gives control and bounce.
Starc brings left-arm pace and reverse swing.
Hazlewood attacks relentlessly around off stump.
Boland’s accuracy is almost designed for seam-friendly pitches.
Australia’s ageing core has become a legitimate strategic issue for the future, something TSE examined in How Australia’s Ageing Problem Puts the Next Generation in the Spotlight.
For this series, age is less important than quality.
South Africa’s batters are still required to survive one of the most accomplished bowling units of the modern era.
Nathan Lyon Could Be Crucial in Durban and Gqeberha
Lyon’s role may be larger than the stereotypical South African surface suggests.
If the pitches become dry or abrasive, Australia possess the spinner capable of controlling long periods while Cummins rotates the quicks.
Kuhnemann gives them a second specialist option.
This matters particularly if South Africa play Maharaj and Harmer together.
Australia may decide they cannot allow the hosts to own the spin phase of the match.
South Africa’s Batting Strength Is Collective Rather Than Superstar-Driven
The South African batting lineup no longer revolves around an AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla or Jacques Kallis.
That has not stopped it winning.
Markram provides the highest ceiling.
Bavuma supplies control and leadership.
Rickelton can attack.
Bedingham is technically strong.
Stubbs is still developing into a Test middle-order player.
Verreynne provides runs from wicketkeeper.
Mulder and Jansen extend the order.
The weakness is equally clear.
There is no guarantee that this lineup withstands Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood if Australia take early wickets.
South Africa’s success has often come through different players solving different problems.
That is one reason their WTC title was so significant.
Australia’s Batting Has More Reputation Than Certainty
Smith remains elite.
Head remains dangerous.
Carey has repeatedly produced useful lower-order runs.
The questions sit around them.
Can Renshaw establish himself?
Has Labuschagne genuinely rediscovered his best rhythm?
How much batting does Australia lose without Green?
Can Webster produce runs against elite pace and spin?
Can Smith carry an innings if South Africa remove Head early?
TSE’s recent analysis of Australia’s ageing Test core addressed the broader problem.
This tour provides a live examination of it.
The WTC Final Rematch Gives South Africa a Psychological Edge
Australia do not fear South Africa.
No serious Test team operates that way.
But Lord’s matters.
South Africa know they can beat Cummins’ side.
They know they can recover after being bowled out cheaply.
They know Markram can score against Australia’s attack.
They know Rabada can dismantle the Australian batting lineup.
Australia will remember the same things.
That is the psychological value of a championship result.
South Africa enter this series holding the trophy Australia wanted.
Recent White-Ball Results Add Another Layer
South Africa have already beaten Australia in the ODI series preceding the Tests.
They won the first ODI by 67 runs.
They won the second by 32 and secured the series.
Australia recovered to take the third match by 45 runs under DLS.
TSE covered South Africa’s series-clinching performance in Miller Gives South Africa Sixth Straight ODI Series Over Australia.
White-ball form cannot be transferred directly into Test cricket.
Several personnel and tactical demands change completely.
The broader competitive message remains useful.
South Africa are comfortable playing Australia.
They have beaten them repeatedly across formats.
What Does the Head-to-Head History Tell Us?
The last two decades have been remarkably even.
Nine Test series
South Africa: 4 series wins
Australia: 4 series wins
Drawn: 1
The geographical pattern is more unusual.
For years, Australia regularly won in South Africa while South Africa often enjoyed better results in Australia.
The 2018 series finally broke the home drought.
South Africa won 3-1.
That victory should have been remembered as one of the best home series performances in their modern history.
Sandpapergate consumed almost all the oxygen around it.
This 2026 series gives the cricket another opportunity to become the main story.
Seven Players Who Could Decide the Series
Aiden Markram
His 136 won South Africa the WTC Final.
Australia know exactly what happens if he bats through two sessions.
Kagiso Rabada
Fitness permitting, he is South Africa’s biggest individual weapon.
His 58 wickets against Australia already show how well the matchup suits him.
Keshav Maharaj
If Durban turns, Maharaj could shape the opening Test and the series immediately.
Steve Smith
He will face the most emotionally charged reception.
Australia still need his runs more than the theatre surrounding him.
Travis Head
Few Test batters can change tempo faster.
South Africa must find a new-ball plan for him.
Pat Cummins
Captain, strike bowler and pressure specialist.
Australia’s series usually looks different when Cummins controls the middle of an innings.
Marnus Labuschagne
His warm-up hundred may have arrived at the perfect time.
South African conditions will reveal whether it represented a genuine technical reset.
Five Tactical Battles That Could Decide the Series
Rabada and Jansen vs Australia’s Top Order
If South Africa strike early, Australia’s middle order becomes vulnerable to pressure from spin.
Head vs the New Ball
Head’s aggression can destroy conventional opening plans.
It can also create opportunities.
South Africa must decide whether to attack him with fuller lengths or deny width and wait.
Maharaj and Harmer vs Smith and Labuschagne
If Kingsmead turns, this could become the defining battle of the first Test.
Smith remains one of the world’s best players of spin.
Labuschagne has more to prove.
Cummins and Hazlewood vs Markram and Bavuma
South Africa’s batting stability depends heavily on their senior players surviving the first 30 overs.
The Lower Orders
This may be the hidden difference between the teams.
Australia repeatedly extract runs from Carey, Cummins, Starc and their all-rounders.
South Africa have Jansen, Mulder and Bosch.
In low-scoring Tests, 50 lower-order runs can decide a match.
What Are South Africa’s Biggest Strengths?
South Africa enter the series with several advantages:
- home conditions
- confidence from winning the WTC Final
- a strong spin pairing
- multiple fast-bowling combinations
- a captain in Bavuma who has already led the side through championship pressure
- recent success in India
- an established record of finding different match-winners
The largest variable is Rabada.
With him, South Africa’s attack looks complete.
Without him, it remains strong but loses its most proven strike bowler.
What Are South Africa’s Biggest Weaknesses?
The batting can still be fragile.
Australia have enough pace quality to expose any technical weakness quickly.
South Africa also have several bowlers returning from injury or extended red-ball absence.
Nortje’s pace is valuable.
Match fitness across five days is another question.
If Rabada is unavailable and Nortje is still rebuilding his workload, Bavuma may have to lean heavily on Jansen, Maharaj and Harmer.
What Are Australia’s Biggest Strengths?
Australia remain formidable because their core has solved almost every Test problem before.
Their greatest strengths are:
- one of the world’s best fast-bowling attacks
- Smith’s experience
- Head’s aggression
- Lyon’s durability
- Carey’s lower-order value
- Cummins’ captaincy
- familiarity with hostile away conditions
- the confidence that comes from leading the WTC table
They are extremely difficult to dominate for five consecutive days.
What Are Australia’s Biggest Weaknesses?
The batting order is less secure than the names suggest.
Green is unavailable in Durban.
Labuschagne has only just begun to answer questions about his form.
Renshaw still has to establish himself.
Smith is 37.
Australia’s veteran core remains excellent, but the transition behind it is already underway.
TSE explored that deeper issue in How Australia’s Ageing Problem Puts the Next Generation in the Spotlight.
This series may show whether the next layer is ready.
Probable South Africa XI for Durban
A likely South Africa combination, subject above all to Rabada’s fitness:
- Aiden Markram
- Ryan Rickelton
- Tristan Stubbs
- Temba Bavuma
- David Bedingham
- Wiaan Mulder
- Kyle Verreynne
- Marco Jansen
- Keshav Maharaj
- Kagiso Rabada / Anrich Nortje
- Simon Harmer / Gerald Coetzee
The biggest decision is whether South Africa play two specialist spinners.
Kingsmead conditions will influence that call.
Probable Australia XI for Durban
A plausible Australian XI:
- Travis Head
- Matthew Renshaw
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Steve Smith
- Beau Webster
- Cooper Connolly / Nic Maddinson
- Alex Carey
- Pat Cummins
- Mitchell Starc
- Nathan Lyon
- Josh Hazlewood
Scott Boland remains a serious alternative if Australia want four specialist fast bowlers.
Kuhnemann becomes more attractive if the surface appears dry enough for two spinners.
World Test Championship Stakes: First vs Second
The series could reshape the top of the WTC standings.
| Team | Tests | Wins | Points Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 10 | 8 | 80.00 |
| South Africa | 4 | 3 | 75.00 |
Australia have more completed matches.
South Africa have more of their campaign still to play.
A 2-1 South African victory would tighten the top significantly.
An Australian series win would give Cummins’ side even greater control of their path toward a third consecutive WTC Final.
The 2027 final will be played at The Oval.
There is a realistic possibility that these same teams could meet there again.
Series Prediction: South Africa 2-1 Australia
This is exceptionally difficult to call.
Australia have the deeper proven Test attack.
South Africa have home conditions.
Australia lead the WTC standings.
South Africa hold the mace.
Australia possess greater Test experience.
South Africa have already shown they can beat this opponent when the pressure is highest.
The Rabada decision may change the balance of the first Test.
If he plays the majority of the series, South Africa have enough bowling to win 2-1.
If he misses significant time, Australia may become slight favorites.
TSE prediction: South Africa win 2-1.
The strongest reason is the combination of home conditions, Maharaj and Harmer’s spin threat, the confidence produced by the 2025 championship and an Australian batting order carrying more uncertainty than its reputation suggests.
A drawn series would not be surprising.
An easy series for either side would be.
What Would a Series Win Mean for South Africa?
It would validate the WTC title.
That may sound unfair because beating Australia at Lord’s already proved enough.
Champions are inevitably asked to repeat success.
South Africa have since won in India.
Beating Australia at home would add another major piece of evidence that this is a sustained Test side rather than one that peaked for a championship final.
It would also strengthen their attempt to defend the mace in 2027.
What Would a Series Win Mean for Australia?
It would do several things at once.
Australia would avenge the WTC Final defeat.
They would strengthen first place in the current championship.
They would win in South Africa for the first time since the catastrophic 2018 tour.
And they would show that their ageing core can still succeed in one of Test cricket’s hardest environments.
For Smith specifically, a successful series would rewrite the emotional memory of his last Test trip to the country.
He cannot erase 2018.
He can create another South African chapter.
Cape Town Will Wait Until the End
Durban begins the cricket.
Gqeberha will deepen the series.
Cape Town carries the history.
Whatever the score is when the teams arrive at Newlands, the third Test will inevitably reopen the old images.
Bancroft.
The yellow sandpaper.
Smith at the press conference.
The leadership bans.
Australia’s collapse.
South Africa’s 3-1 victory.
Eight years later, cricket finally gets the rematch on South African soil.
There is no David Warner.
No Cameron Bancroft.
No Faf du Plessis.
No AB de Villiers.
Smith remains.
Rabada remains.
Cummins remains.
Starc remains.
Hazlewood remains.
Maharaj remains.
And this time South Africa walk into the series carrying the title Australia lost to them at Lord’s.
The past will make the series louder.
The World Test Championship may make it more important.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Does the South Africa vs Australia Test Series Start?
The first Test begins on October 9, 2026, at Kingsmead in Durban.
How Many Tests Are South Africa and Australia Playing?
They will play three Tests in Durban, Gqeberha and Cape Town.
Is This Australia’s First Test Tour of South Africa Since Sandpapergate?
Yes. Australia have not played a Test series in South Africa since the 2018 tour.
What Happened During Sandpapergate?
Cameron Bancroft was caught attempting to alter the ball with sandpaper during the Cape Town Test. Steve Smith and David Warner subsequently received 12-month Cricket Australia bans, while Bancroft received nine months.
Are South Africa the Current World Test Champions?
Yes. South Africa defeated Australia by five wickets in the 2025 World Test Championship Final at Lord’s.
Who Leads the Current World Test Championship Standings?
Australia lead with an 80 percent points percentage. South Africa are second at 75 percent.
Will Kagiso Rabada Play the First Test?
His availability remains uncertain. South Africa are giving him until close to the start of the Durban Test to prove his fitness after a hamstring injury.
Is Cameron Green Available for Australia?
Green has been ruled out of the first Test because of an abdominal strain.
Who Are the Key Players to Watch?
Steve Smith, Travis Head, Pat Cummins and Marnus Labuschagne for Australia; Aiden Markram, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj and Temba Bavuma for South Africa.
Who Are Favorites to Win the Series?
There is very little between the sides. South Africa have home advantage and are reigning WTC champions, while Australia lead the current championship and possess the more established Test attack. TSE narrowly favors South Africa 2-1.