Kingsmead set to light up in 2026 international season

As the new cricket season starts to come into focus, Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium will be a significant player in the upcoming international season with Australia's men's side facing the Proteas at the hallowed venue later in the year.

The teams will face off in a traditional three ODI and three Test match series and the tour opens at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium on 24 September when the teams face off in the first ODI.

Kingsmead has been the venue of a number of exciting white ball matches between South Africa and Australia. The venue is best known for South Africa's unforgettable chase of 372 to beat Australia in 2016.

Two Dolphins players at the time David Miller and Andile Phehlukwayo combined for an unbeaten 107 run partnership to see the Proteas home to a four wicket win with four balls to spare.

Many cricket fans in South Africa will be eagerly anticipating the Test series that begins on 9 October at Kingsmead.

The rivalry between South Africa and Australia has continued to ramp up and following last year's ICC World Test Championship final, the Proteas will be eager to continue their dominance over their rivals from down under.

This Test series is also the first time Australia will be playing test cricket in South Africa since the infamous series in 2018.

That tour started with a test match in Durban that included plenty of talking points for fans around the world. That series will live on the memories of the cricket world and sets this series up to be full of drama once again.

Pat Cummins and his Australian squad will need to deal with the ghosts of 2018 as they look to avenge what was a straight-forward 3-1 series win for South Africa eight years ago.

Temba Bavuma leads a team that are on top of their game in red ball cricket and the Kingsmead crowd will be treated to two of the best teams in the world going head-to-head in a mouth-water test series.

CEO of KZN Cricket Heinrich Strydom believes that it doesn't get bigger than taking on Australia in a Test match.

"This is a match that you mark in your calendar months in advance and we cannot wait to welcome the two ICC World Test Championship finalists to Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium," Strydom said.

"The Proteas against Australia is always full of drama and intrigue and we know that they come to our shores wanting to prove a point which sets things up beautifully for an exciting tour."

Strydom encourages the people of KZN to make sure they get down to Kingsmead Stadium to support the Proteas against their biggest rivals.

"The people of Durban have been starved of Test cricket and we need to make sure that we embrace the games purest form.

"To also have an ODI series between these two sides as well is a privilege and with an ICC Men's 50 Over World Cup here next year it will be a great dress rehearsal for that event."

Tickets for the ODI and the test match are on sale and can be purchased through www.ticketpros.co.za