Australia to confront ball-tampering scandal on new South Africa tour
Australia will return to South Africa for the first time since the infamous ball-tampering scandal tour of 2018 when they arrive in February for a three-Test series.
Cricket South Africa announced the news on Tuesday evening but exact dates and venues are yet to be confirmed, although the series will conclude in March.
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Australia won the opening Test in 2018 but ultimately lost the four-match series 3-1.
The Proteas will also host England from Late November in limited overs matches, Sri Lanka for a two-Test showdown around the turn of the year and close out their home campaign against Pakistan in three ODIs and three T20s during a busy summer of cricket in South Africa.
"We are delighted to announce the schedule of men's international cricket for the home season," CSA acting CEO Kugandrie Govender said.
"It is an absolute pleasure to deliver more good news for our cricket-loving fans to consume... The COVID-19 pandemic predictably forced many changes to... the traditional sequencing of scheduling matches in South Africa this season.
"This is why I am particularly proud of today's announcement."
The Australians will return to cricket this home summer by welcoming India for three one-dayers, three Twenty20 games and four Tests.
Summer is not cancelled! South Africa will play England, Sri Lanka, Pakistan (maybe even away) and Australia between November and April this year. There will be five home Tests, under a new captain, and plenty of white-ball action ahead of the T20 World Cup. #cricket
— Firdose Moonda (@FirdoseM) October 27, 2020
The short-format games will be played in Sydney and Canberra, likely from November 27 to December 8.
Adelaide will host the Test series opener with a day-night encounter slated to start on December 17.
Melbourne's Boxing Day fixture will be the second Test with Sydney's Test likely to start on January 7 and the fourth Test in Brisbane commencing January 15.
India cricket tour of Australia locked in
Australian cricket's international summer schedule against India has been locked in, with Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane to host Test matches.
Adelaide Oval will host a day-night Test series opener from December 17 - the first day-night Test between Australia and India.
The second Test will be played at the MCG from Boxing Day with following Tests at the SCG from January 7 and the Gabba in Brisbane from January 15.
India's squad will arrive in Australia on November 12 and spend 14 days in quarantine in Sydney, with the NSW government permitting the tourists to train in that time.
Australia's cricketers currently playing in the Indian Premier League will also return around that time and spend two weeks training while in quarantine.
The Indian tour will commence with a three-match 50-over series, in Sydney on November 27 and 29 and at Canberra's Manuka Oval on December 2.
A three-match Twenty20 series will follow, in Canberra on December 4 and Sydney on December 6 and 8.
The tourists will also play two tour matches with India A meeting an Australia A team at Sydney's Drummoyne Oval from December 6-8 and India playing Australia A in a day-night game at the SCG from December 11-13.
The release of the international summer schedule had been delayed while Cricket Australia and the Board of Control for Cricket in India ratified biosecurity protocols amid the coronavirus pandemic.
