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Cape Town to Host New Year’s Test Between India and South Africa

Cape Town to Host New Year's Test Between India and South Africa

India will play their first Test match of 2022 versus South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town. India are set to tour South Africa from December 2021 to January 2022 in what has been touted as a marquee international series during South Africa’s home season.

According to the earlier schedule, two of those Tests — which are part of the World Test Championship for the 2021-23 cycle — were to be played at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. CSA has since confirmed that the third test to be played from January 3 to 7 will now take place in Cape Town. CSA took the decision after considering the strict bio-bubble rules in place in Johannesburg.

Test series Dates Old Schedule New Schedule
First Test December 17-21, 2021 Johannesburg Johannesburg
Second Test December 26-30, 2021 Centurion Cape Town
Third Test January 3-7, 2021 Johannesburg Cape Town

Graeme Smith, CSA Director of Cricket, Weighs in

Speaking to the media, Graeme Smith, director of cricket at CSA, said,

SA to Host India, Netherlands, and Bangladesh in Home Seasonp>The India series will involve three Test matches, three One Day Internationals and four T20 Internationals between 17 December and 26 January. South Africa will also later host Netherlands and Bangladesh. The last bilateral series between the sides was hosted by India in March 2020. The teams were to play three ODIs. As things transpired, the first match was washed out by rain, while the other two were called off owing to the pandemic outbreak. A three-match T20I series was later announced by the BCCI. It was originally scheduled for August 2020 and later postponed to September-October 2021. The first wave of COVID-19 in South Africa and the amended schedule of the IPL have ensured that the series is yet to take place.
Venue Matches Played Won by South Africa Won by India Drawn
Jo’burg 5 0 2 3
Cape Town 5 3 0 2
Centurion 2 2 0 0
P E 2 1 0 1
Durban 5 3 1 1
Bloemfontein 1 1 0 0
Total 20 10 3 7

South Africa’s Unbeaten Home Series Record Versus India

The upcoming Test series is seen as India’s best opportunity to register their first series win in South Africa. India played their first series in South Africa in 1992-93. The four-match series ended 1-0 in South Africa’s favour. The next (three-match) series in 1996-97 was also won (2-0) by the hosts. The third series in 2001-02 was likewise won 1-0 by South Africa. The hosts won by a 2-0 margin in the fourth series in 2006-07. India played their best tour of South Africa in 2010-11, when they drew the three-match series 1-1. The next 2-match series in 2013-14 was won 1-0 by South Africa. The last series (the 7th) was won 2-1 by the home side as South Africa maintained their unbeaten home record against India.