England's winter tour of South Africa is the biggest of the festive period: three Tests starting 17 December at the Wanderers, a Boxing Day Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion and a New Year Test at Newlands in Cape Town from 3 January, followed by three ODIs in Paarl and Bloemfontein from 10 to 15 January.
There is a tour match against a Cricket South Africa Invitation XI in Durban on 9 December. Squads have not been announced yet. This guide has the calendar and the approach, and will be updated as squads arrive.
Three Tests, 17 December to January
Three ODIs, 10 to 15 January
Planning around the holiday calendar
- Boxing Day at Centurion (26 December): the second Test is played on the traditional festive date in South Africa.
- New Year at Newlands (3 January): Cape Town traditionally hosts a Test at the turn of the year. Check the pitch report on the match page because conditions differ from the Highveld venues.
- A gap of nine days between Tests 1 and 2 and eight days between Tests 2 and 3 gives teams time to rotate bowlers. Expect changes.
- ODIs are the second half. The tour changes format on 10 January, so squads and fantasy approaches change with it.
Fantasy approach
- Tests: pick the quicks. Johannesburg and Centurion are fast, bouncy tracks, and South Africa's pace attack is the key to the home side's chances.
- Allrounders earn the most points over five days. Look for players who bat in the top seven and bowl full spells.
- At Newlands, balance your XI with both a seam option and a spinner until the pitch report is in.
- ODIs: Paarl and Bloemfontein are smaller grounds with true bounce. Top-order batters and death bowlers are the best captain options.
- Check for early-morning starts. Test starts at 1:30 PM IST are easy to follow, and the ODIs vary between 1:30 PM and 5:00 PM IST.
Test teams are named the day before. Wait for the confirmed XI on the match page before you lock, because a squad place is not a guarantee in a three-match series with a long tour.
Series outlook
South Africa will back their pace attack at home. England bring the batting depth. The Tests are likely to be competitive and the ODIs more open. Set your own call in a free Predictor game before each match.
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Open the 1st Test match page, South Africa vs England at the Wanderers.
Open match pageFrequently asked questions
When does England tour South Africa?
The tour match is on 9 December. The Tests start on 17 December, 26 December and 3 January, and the ODIs are on 10, 13 and 15 January.
What time do the Tests start in India?
The Wanderers and Centurion Tests start at 1:30 PM IST on day one. The Cape Town Test starts at 2:00 PM IST.
Where are the ODIs?
The first ODI is at Boland Park in Paarl on 10 January. The second and third are at Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on 13 and 15 January.
Are there T20Is on the tour?
No. The tour is three Tests and three ODIs.
Have the squads been announced?
Not yet. We will update this guide when they are.
Is CricketDream fantasy free to play?
Yes. Fantasy XI, Draft, Multi-Draft, Predictor, Cricket Quiz and CricketQuest are all completely free, with no entry fees and no cash prizes. You can play the series for fun and bragging rights with friends.
Where can I follow the live score?
CricketDream is not a broadcaster. Check your local rights holder for the live stream, and use each CricketDream match page for the live score, confirmed playing XIs and your fantasy points as they update.