Boxing Day Test for Durban

Durban will host the traditional "Boxing Day" Test against India in December, Cricket South Africa (CSA) has confirmed, after the annual match was replaced by a T20 fixture last season.

The Proteas would host two of their greatest rivals in the coming season, with India and Australia touring the country over a four-month period, CSA announced on Monday.

"It promises to be a wonderful summer of hotly contested international cricket," said CSA acting CEO Naasei Appiah. "India are the current undisputed champions of 50 overs cricket and it was not that long ago that they briefly held the number one ranking in Test cricket as well. The Indian players have always been very popular in South Africa."

Appiah hoped Australia's tour would attract as much attention as their Indian counterparts.

"Any series between Australia and South Africa in any sporting code always promises a spectacle of note and a contest worthy of some of sport's most famous moments," he said. "Australia will be battle-hardened after successive home and away Ashes series against England."

The Proteas, ranked first in the world, would play three Test matches against each country and seven ODI's against India.

They would also play three T20 Internationals against Australia and two against India.

India would tour the country first, with the opening match against South Africa, a T20 fixture on November 21, to be played at the Wanderers, while the third and final Test, also at the Wanderers, would start on January 19.

Australia would play their first match against the Proteas, a Test in Centurion, on February 12, and their last game, a T20 International in Centurion, on March 14.

(File Photo: Gallo Images)

-Sapa