World Cup dress rehearsal for SA

Times Media

TELFORD VICE, Johannesburg

SA will play two of their eight matches against Australia in November at venues they will visit during next year’s World Cup.

In a schedule announced last night, SA will take on the Aussies in three T20s and five one-day internationals. The teams will play a T20 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and an ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

SA are due to play first round World Cup games against India at the MCG on February 22 and against West Indies five days later.

This year’s matches could be a useful refresher course for the South Africans, who last played at the MCG in November, 2012 and at the SCG in January, 2009.

SA are scheduled to play up to 24 ODIs before the open their World Cup campaign against Zimbabwe in Hamilton on February 15.

Fixtures:

Nov 5: 1st T20 - Australia v SA, Adelaide Oval

Nov 7: 2nd T20 - Australia v SA, MCG

Nov 9: 3rd T20 - Australia v SA, ANZ Stadium, Sydney

Nov 14: 1st ODI - Australia v SA, WACA, Perth

Nov 16: 2nd ODI - Australia v SA, WACA, Perth

Nov 19: 3rd ODI - Australia v SA, Manuka Oval, Canberra

Nov 21: 4th ODI - Australia v SA, MCG

Nov 23: 5th ODI - Australia v SA, SCG