South Africa to host Aussies for four Tests in early 2018

Johannesburg [South Africa], Jan.4 (ANI): South Africa will host Australia for the first four-match Test series at the conclusion of a 2017-18 home season that is set to be the country's busiest one, including at least ten Tests. Confirming the news, Cricket South Africa (CSA) CEO Haroon Lorgat insisted that as the Test series against Australia would be played straight after the tour by India, it would provide the fans with one of the most challenging seasons of cricket that they had ever witnessed in South Africa. "Test match cricket between Australia and South Africa has always produced epic battles and brought out high-class individual performances that have become part of the annals of the game. Australia are currently the No. 2 ranked team on the ICC Test table and we will need to beat them and India to regain our place at the top of the table," ESPNcricinfo quoted Lorgat as saying. "With this series being played straight after the tour by India our Proteas and fans can look forward to what will be one of the most challenging seasons of Test match cricket we have ever witnessed in South Africa," he added. The four Test matches will take place in Durban, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Johannesburg, venues that have all hosted the Australian earlier. While there will be a nine-day gap between the second and third Test, the final match at the Wanderers will take place over Easter weekend. Australia's last tour to South Africa came in 2013-14, when the tourists went on to clinch the series 2-1 and Graeme Smith took retirement from the international cricket. The two teams have since then met in ODIs in South Africa in 2015 and Tests in Australia in last season. Prior to the Australian tour, South Africa will host Bangladesh for two-match Test series in Bloemfontein and Potchefstroom, respectively before welcoming India for four Tests over the festive period in December and January. (ANI)