Cricket South Africa on Friday announced a bumper programme of international matches in all three formats of the game against Australia and Sri Lanka for the 2011-12 season.
Australia will play two Test matches, three ODIs and two Twenty20 Internationals in South Africa across October and November, while Sri Lanka will tour from December to January for three Tests and five ODIs.
The Proteas complete their season with a tour to New Zealand. "Any series between Australia and the Proteas is always something to be savoured," commented CSA CEO Gerald Majola. "Fans can look forward to a repeat of the excitement, quality and entertainment that we witnessed the last time the teams met in head-to-head series in the 2008-09 season.
"Australia is currently the number one ranked team in the world in ODI cricket and their Test team is also highly competitive. "Unfortunately time constraints prevent us from playing more than two Tests against Australia this time around. In this regard I would like to stress that Test cricket remains in our view the ultimate pinnacle of the game. There is room for all three formats and they complement one another in an outstanding overall package.
"The aim is to play a four-match Test series when Australia next tour in February and March of 2014. This will make up for the extra Test not being played on this year's tour."Sri Lanka will come to South Africa for a full tour for the first time since 2002. They reached the final of the last two World Cups which speaks for itself about the quality of their side.
South Africa's 2011-12 season
October 13: South Africa v Australia, first T20I, Cape Town
October 16: South Africa v Australia, second T20I, Johannesburg
October 19: South Africa v Australia, first ODI, Centurion
October 23: South Africa v Australia, second ODI, Port Elizabeth
October 28: South Africa v Australia, third ODI, Durban
November 1-4: v Australia, Potchefstroom
November 9-13: South Africa v Australia, first Test, Cape Town
November 17-21: South Africa v Australia, second Test, Johannesburg
December 9-11: South Africa A v Sri Lanka, Benoni
December 15-19: South Africa v Sri Lanka, first Test, Centurion
December 26-30: South Africa v Sri Lanka, second Test, Durban
January 3-7: South Africa v Sri Lanka, third Test, Cape Town
January 11: South Africa v Sri Lanka, first ODI, Paarl
January 14: South Africa v Sri Lanka, second ODI, East London
January 17: South Africa v Sri Lanka, third ODI, Bloemfontein
January 20: South Africa v Sri Lanka, fourth ODI, Kimberley
January 22: South Africa v Sri Lanka, fifth ODI, Johannesburg |
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