The three-match one-day series against the Proteas is off, putting their direct World Cup qualification hopes in doubt while freeing up some of Australia's Test stars to play Big Bash
South Africa withdraw from January ODI series
South Africa have withdrawn from the one-day international series against Australia earmarked for mid-January in what looms as a major setback for the Proteas' hopes of direct qualification for next year's ODI World Cup.
It also shapes as boost for the KFC Big Bash League with some of the nation's Test stars now set to be released to their clubs after the Sydney Test until the end of the finals series.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) had asked Cricket Australia (CA) to reconsider the dates of the three matches originally set aside for January 12-17 due to a clash with their new franchise T20 league, but CA announced today they have been unable to find alternative dates to reschedule the series.
As a result of South Africa's withdrawal, Australia's Dettol T20I match against the West Indies on October 7 has been moved from Metricon Stadium to the Gabba, while the first match of the T20I series against England on October 9 will be played at Perth Stadium instead of the Gabba.
Australia women's second Commonwealth Bank T20I against Pakistan at Manuka Oval scheduled for January 27 has also been bought forward a day and moved to Blundstone Arena to ensure Hobart hosts an Australian team this summer.
Image Id: 6F662A8433884C9CA80F61D04ACE8159 Image Caption: Blundstone Arena will now host the second women's T20 between Australia and Pakistan // GettyAbandoning the series, which forms part of the Super League, hurts South Africa's chances of direct qualification for the 2023 men's ODI World Cup in India with the Proteas currently languishing in 11th spot with 49 points.
The Proteas have effectively forfeited the series, with CSA agreeing that because the matches won't be played before the qualification cut-off date in May, the 30 competition points on offer will be awarded to Australia, pending ICC approval.
Only the top eight teams from the 12 ICC full member nations plus the Netherlands qualify for the tournament with the remaining five teams having to play off against five Associate sides for the remaining two World Cup spots.
South Africa's remaining Super League matches before the May cut-off date are against ODI world champions England and India, meaning they face an uphill battle to climb out of the bottom five.
Video Player is loading.
Australia currently sits seventh with 70 points from 12 matches with their recent 2-3 ODI series loss in Sri Lanka not having Super League status.
CA said in a statement there were no alternative dates available to play the series owing to a congested international schedule due to a backlog of postponements during the pandemic, which includes the men's T20 World Cup being hosted by Australia in October-November.
The likes of superstar Glenn Maxwell, Melbourne Stars teammates Marcus Stoinis and Adam Zampa, national white-ball skipper Aaron Finch and Perth Scorchers pair Mitch Marsh and Ashton Agar will now be free to play the entire BBL|12 season if not called up to the Test side.
It also means all-format stars currently without BBL deals, such as Steve Smith, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood and David Warner, could make their Big Bash returns after opting out of previous seasons due to cluttered international scheduling.
Big Bash League boss Alistair Dobson has made it clear one of his priorities is to get Australia's best male players featuring in the competition.
As things stand, Usman Khawaja (Brisbane Heat), Mitchell Swepson (Brisbane Heat), Nathan Lyon (Sixers) and Alex Carey (Adelaide Strikers) are contracted, while regulars Marnus Labuschagne (Heat) and Travis Head (Strikers) would be expected to re-sign with their BBL clubs.
However, Mitchell Starc and Test skipper Pat Cummins have already indicated they intend to skip the Big Bash this season following the New Year's Test from January 4-8 to prioritise international cricket with a four-Test tour to India on the horizon in February-March.
Tickets for the summer of cricket go on sale to the Australian Cricket Family on July 18 and to the general public on July 22.
2022-23 Australian home international schedule
(all times local)
Men's Dettol ODI Series v Zimbabwe
Sunday Aug 28: Riverway Stadium, Townsville, 9:40am
Wednesday Aug 31: Riverway Stadium, Townsville, 9:40am
Saturday Sep 3: Riverway Stadium, Townsville, 9:40am
Men's Dettol ODI Series v New Zealand
Tuesday, Sep 6: Cazaly Stadium, Cairns, 2:20pm
Thursday, Sep 8: Cazaly Stadium, Cairns, 2:20pm
Sunday Sep 11: Cazaly Stadium, Cairns, 2:20pm
Men's Dettol T20I Series v West Indies
Wednesday Oct 5: Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast, 6:10pm
Friday Oct 7: The Gabba, Brisbane, 6:10pm
Men's Dettol T20I Series v England
Sunday Oct 9: Perth Stadium, TBC
Wednesday Oct 12: Manuka Oval, Canberra 6:40pm
Friday Oct 14: Manuka Oval, Canberra 6:40pm
ICC Men's T20 World Cup
Oct 16-21: Group stage
Oct 22-Nov 6: Super 12 stage
Wed-Thurs Nov 9-10: Semi-finals, SCG & Adelaide Oval
Sunday Nov 13: final, MCG, 7pm
Men's Dettol ODI Series v England
Thursday Nov 17: Adelaide Oval, 1:50pm
Saturday Nov 19: SCG, 2:20pm
Tuesday Nov 22: MCG, 2:20pm
Men's Vodafone Test Series v West Indies
Nov 30 – Dec 4: First Test, Perth Stadium, 10:20am
Dec 8-12: Second Test, Adelaide Oval, 2:30pm
Men's Vodafone Test Series v South Africa
Dec 17-21: First Test, the Gabba, 10:20am
Dec 26-30: Second Test, MCG, 10:30am
Jan 4-8: Third Test, SCG, 10:30am
Women's CommBank ODI Series v Pakistan
Monday Jan 16: Allan Border Field, Brisbane 10:05am
Wednesday Jan 18: Allan Border Field, Brisbane 10:05am
Saturday Jan 21: North Sydney Oval, 10:05am
Women's CommBank T20I Series v Pakistan
Tuesday Jan 24: North Sydney Oval, 1:45pm
Thursday Jan 26: Blundstone Arena, Hobart, 7:05pm
Sunday Jan 29: Manuka Oval, Canberra, 1:45pm