--- title: "Test cricket takes a backseat as CSA announces action-packed Proteas summer schedule" description: "Sri Lanka and Pakistan are set to travel to South African shores to face the Proteas men while the Proteas women brace for England’s inbound challenge." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "DENSE PROGRAMME" author: "Keanan Hemmonsbey" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/keanan-hemmonsbey/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-05-03-test-cricket-takes-a-backseat-as-csa-announces-action-packed-proteas-summer-schedule/" published: "2024-05-03T15:18:20" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 916 --- # Test cricket takes a backseat as CSA announces action-packed Proteas summer schedule > Sri Lanka and Pakistan are set to travel to South African shores to face the Proteas men while the Proteas women brace for England’s inbound challenge. By Keanan Hemmonsbey · Published 3 May 2024, 17:18 SAST ## Key points - South Africa's cricket calendar for the year ahead includes a limited number of home Test matches, with Sri Lanka and Pakistan set to visit, while the Proteas also gear up to face off against Zimbabwe and potentially qualify for the World Test Championship final, all under the watchful eye of CSA CEO Pholetsi Moseki who promises "exhilarating encounters" and a celebration of the global appeal of the sport. - South Africa's home cricket schedule for 2024/2025 includes Test series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, with limited fixtures due to SA20 commitments in January and February. - Proteas to face Sri Lanka in two Tests in Durban and Gqeberha, followed by six white-ball matches against Pakistan in December. - Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg to miss out on hosting Test matches, but will host the Pink Day ODI against Pakistan on 22 December. - England women set to tour South Africa in November and December for a multi-format series, including the first women's Test match in the country since 2002. ## Content Having only played one Test match at home so far this year, South Africa only have three more scheduled for the year after Cricket South Africa (CSA) unveiled the 2024/2025 home schedule on Friday. Subcontinent side Sri Lanka is set to arrive on South African shores at the backend of November for a two-match Test series before Pakistan face the same task a month later with six white-ball matches against the latter in between. That’s as far as the home fixtures go for the Proteas men — outside of three 50-over and two four-day matches for the ‘A’ side in August and September — as CSA attempt to keep 30 days open in the calendar across January and February for the SA20. The red-ball series against Pakistan will be the last Test series in the country for over a year with the next, against Australia, set to take place in September and October of 2026, according to the Future Tours Programme. South Africa’s next Test match, after Pakistan, is scheduled to take place in June next year against neighbours Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe. Although, the Proteas are still in with a chance of qualifying for the World Test Championship final which takes place the same month. ![Marco Jansen and Kyle Verreynne of South Africa during day two of the second Test match between against India at Newlands Cricket Ground. 4 January 2024. (Photo: Shaun Roy/Gallo Images)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/tG3U-s3cc_tMLt5puG82TWECCa0=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/TL_2158178.jpg) *Marco Jansen and Kyle Verreynne of South Africa during day two of the second Test match between against India at Newlands Cricket Ground. 4 January 2024. (Photo: Shaun Roy/Gallo Images)* #### **Venues** Wanderers in Johannesburg won’t play host to any of the four scheduled Test matches across the summer. Although it will host the annual Pink Day ODI against Pakistan on 22 December. The Proteas will take on Sri Lanka in the first Test at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban from 27 November to 1 December, before St George’s Park in Gqeberha hosts the second Test from 5 to 9 December. The side then plays three T20Is from 10 to 14 December. The ODI outfit will then play in as many ODIs from 17 to 22 December. The men’s final assignment of the summer will be a two-match Test series against Pakistan, starting with the Boxing Day Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion from 26 to 30 December, before Temba Bavuma’s side head to Cape Town for the New Year’s Test at Newlands Cricket Ground from 3 to 7 January. ![Kagiso Rabada of South Africa. (Photo: Shaun Roy/Gallo Images)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/pG53Mvlm8DX2o1XGQQWxOiwe-78=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/TL_2158348.jpg) *Kagiso Rabada of South Africa. (Photo: Shaun Roy/Gallo Images)* #### **England inbound** England women will visit South Africa across November and December for a multi-format tour, a reverse tour of the one South Africa embarked on in 2022 when they went winless across the tour. The Test match, scheduled for 15–18 December at Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein will be the first women’s Test in the country since 2002 and the first Test match in Bloemfontein since 2017. “As we eagerly anticipate the 2024/25 home international season, it once again holds the promise of exhilarating encounters,” CSA CEO, Pholetsi Moseki said. “As we open our doors to esteemed cricketing nations like Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and England, we not only showcase the talent and competitiveness of South African cricket but also celebrate the global appeal and camaraderie inherent in our beloved sport. “These fixtures serve as a platform to not just compete, but to foster bonds between nations, uniting players and fans alike in the shared love for cricket.” **DM** #### **Full home schedule:** **South Africa ‘A’ Tour against Sri Lanka ‘A’** **One-Day Matches** Saturday, 31 August South Africa A vs Sri Lanka A - JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom Monday, 2 September South Africa A vs Sri Lanka A - JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom Wednesday, 4 September South Africa A vs Sri Lanka A - JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom **Four-Day Matches** 8 - 11 September South Africa A vs Sri Lanka A - Kimberley Oval, Kimberley 15 - 18 September South Africa A vs Sri Lanka A - Willowmoore Park, Benoni **Proteas Men’s Inbound Tour against Sri Lanka** **Test Series** 27 November - 1 December at 09:30 South Africa vs Sri Lanka – Kingsmead Stadium, Durban 5 - 9 December at 10:30 South Africa vs Sri Lanka – St George’s Park, Gqeberha **Proteas Men Inbound Tour against Pakistan** **T20I Series** Tuesday, 10 December at 18:00 South Africa vs Pakistan - Kingsmead Stadium, Durban Friday, 13 December at 18:00 South Africa vs Pakistan - SuperSport Park, Centurion Saturday, 14 December at 18:00 South Africa vs Pakistan - Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg **ODI Series** Tuesday, 17 December at 14:00 South Africa vs Pakistan - Boland Park, Paarl Thursday, 19 December at 14:00 South Africa vs Pakistan - Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town Sunday, 22 December at 14:00 – Pink Day South Africa vs Pakistan - Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg **Test Series** 26 - 30 December at 10:00 South Africa vs Pakistan - SuperSport Park, Centurion 3 - 7 January at 10:30 South Africa vs Pakistan - Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town **Proteas Women Inbound Tour against England** T20I Series Sunday, 24 November at 14:00 South Africa vs England - Buffalo Park Cricket Stadium, East London Wednesday, 27 November at 18:00 South Africa vs England - Willowmoore Park, Benoni Saturday, 30 November at 18:00 South Africa vs England - SuperSport Park, Centurion **ODI Series** Wednesday, 4 December at 14:00 South Africa vs England - Kimberley Oval, Kimberley Sunday, 8 December at 10:00 – Black Day South Africa vs England – Kingsmead Stadium, Durban Wednesday, 11 December at 14:00 South Africa vs England – JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom **Test** 15 – 18 December at 10:30 South Africa vs England - Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein