Australia Test tour schedule confirmed—and South Africa is already preparing the sandpaper

Cricket Australia has confirmed the schedule for this year’s Test tour to South Africa.

With three back-to-back Tests in October, it will be the first time Australia has played red ball cricket on South African soil since the infamous ‘sandpaper gate’ tour of 2018—and it’s fair to say South African fans haven’t forgotten.

The release of the full tour schedule, which also includes three ODIs and two-day warm up match, was accompanied by an avalanche of sandpaper memes suggesting the Australians will need to bring thick skins as well as their strongest squad.

Of the three men at the centre of the ball-tampering incident in Cape Town—Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, who all received lengthy suspensions—only Smith remains in the Australian Test line-up.

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The former captain can expect an intense reception from local crowds and media everywhere he goes in South Africa, and more than likely a few sandpaper-related props.

The two nations last met in a Test match in 2025 in the Final of the ICC Test Championship at The Oval with South Africa winning by five wickets to lift the mace.

Australia vs. South Africa: 2026 Test Match Schedule

Can’t wait for the squad announcement & what extras the cricket bags may have inside them pic.twitter.com/S07ONc2BHh

— Raden (@VLQ28) February 23, 2026