Cape Town - Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Tuesday announced another bumper programme of home international matches for the 2016/17 season during which fans can look forward to the Proteas taking on New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka and Ireland.

With the past August month having proved successful in hosting international cricket, the 2016/17 season will again make an early start with two Test matches against New Zealand in the second half of August 2016.

This will be followed by a five-match ODI Series against Australia from the end of September to the middle of October 2016. This series will be preceded by the visit of Ireland who will play one ODI each against the Proteas and Australia.

Sri Lanka will be the guests of CSA for the traditional December 2016 to January 2017 part of the season and will oppose the Proteas in three Test matches, five ODIs and three T20 International matches.

In between the visits by Australia and Sri Lanka, the Proteas will go ‘down under’ for a Test series against Australia and, after the Sri Lankan tour, they will visit New Zealand for a full tour in February and March.

“We are looking forward to yet another full international season with Test matches starting in August against New Zealand,” commented CSA Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat.

“Playing against New Zealand, Australia, Ireland and Sri Lanka in one season will test the winning ways of our Proteas and it will also provide our fans with the opportunity to watch the Proteas in action at home in five Test matches, 11 ODIs and three T20 International matches.

“Test cricket will remain the main focus for our world No 1 ranked team and I am pleased the ICC has increased the total Test rankings prize money to $US 1.8m.

“Our team will no doubt have a keen eye on ODI cricket too as the major ICC event in 2017 is the ICC Champions Trophy to be played in England in mid-2017. By announcing the fixtures early we are creating time for our most loyal fans to make their holiday plans to follow the team,” concluded Lorgat.

Warren Deutrom, CEO of Cricket Ireland, welcomed the opportunity to play ODIs against two of the games powerhouses in South Africa and Australia.

“Cricket Ireland is most grateful to Cricket South Africa and Cricket Australia for giving us this opportunity,” he commented. “These matches are precisely what John Bracewell was referring to when he said we need more matches, more regularly, against the best players, in overseas conditions. The recent series played by Ireland and Afghanistan in Zimbabwe plus our ODIs against Sri Lanka and Pakistan in 2016, and now these matches, show that the 12-team ODI structure is beginning to bear fruit. Long may that continue.”

South Africa’s home international fixture list for 2016/17:

New Zealand Tour 2016

August 19-23: 1st Test match, Kingsmead

August 27-31, 2nd Test match, SuperSport Park

Ireland Tour 2016

September 25: ODI v South Africa, Day, Willowmoore Park

September 27: ODI v Australia, Day, Willowmoore Park

Australia Tour 2016

September 30, 1st ODI, D/N, SuperSport Park

October 2, 2nd ODI, Day, Wanderers

October 5, 3rd ODI, D/N, Kingsmead

October 9, 4th ODI, Day, St George’s Park

October 12, 5th ODI, D/N, Newlands

Sri Lanka Tour 2016/17

December 8-10, Three-Day Tour match, SA Invitation XI, Senwes Park

December 15-19, 1st Test match, Wanderers

December 26-30, 2nd Test match, St George’s Park

January 2-6, 3rd Test match, Newlands

January 10, 1st T20 International, D/N, PPC Newlands

January 13, 2nd T20 International, D/N, SuperSport Park

January 15, 3rd T20 International, Day, Wanderers

January 20, 1st ODI, D/N, Kingsmead

January 22, 2nd ODI, Day, St George’s Park

January 27, 3rd ODI, D/N, Newlands

January 29, 4th ODI, Day, Wanderers

February 3, 5th ODI, D/N, SuperSport Park

*CSA will in due course announce the Proteas tour to Australia during November 2016 for the Test series.