The schedule for Australia's three-Test series in South Africa has been released with matches to be played in Durban and Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) before the final clash at Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town.
Australia will also play a three-match away ODI series against South Africa in September.
South Africa beat Australia 3-1 in 2018 across four Tests but it was the third Test in Cape Town that created worldwide headlines when the Sandpapergate scandal erupted on the third day in a 322-run loss.
In the aftermath captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were sent home ahead of the fourth Test. Later Cricket Australia banned Smith and Warner from international and domestic cricket in Australia for 12 months and slapped Bancroft with a nine-month ban.
Smith is set to return with the team in October. The bowling quartet of captain Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon are the only other current squad members remaining from the Newlands team eight years ago.
Smith is expected to go back as vice-captain to Cummins.
The series will be crucial to Australia's World Test championships hopes. South Africa are the world Test champions after beating Australia in the final last year at Lord's.
Australia currently lead the World Test Championship ladder with seven wins from eight matches. New Zealand are second and South Africa are third.
The Australians, who will play Bangladesh in Darwin and Mackay in a two-Test series in August, will host New Zealand in a four-Test series on returning from South Africa before touring India early next year where five Tests will be played for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The South Africa series looms as a huge challenge for Australia's top order who struggled to handle superstar paceman Kagiso Rababa at Lord's last year.
Rabada took nine wickets for the match and was well supported by Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi in what is a fearsome pace attack.
AUSTRALIA MEN'S TOUR OF SOUTH AFRICA 2026
ODI Series:
First ODI: September 24, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban
Second ODI: September 27, Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Third ODI: September 30, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom (D/N)
Warm-up match:
October 3-4, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom
Test Series:
First Test: October 9-13, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban
Second Test: October 18-22, St George's Park, Gqeberha
Third Test: October 27-31, Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town.
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