Sky Sports, in partnership with Cricket South Africa, has renewed its long‑standing collaboration to become the sole broadcaster of England’s men’s cricket tour of South Africa this coming winter. The agreement, which also involves the streaming platform NOW, guarantees that fans in the United Kingdom will be able to watch every moment of the three‑Test and three‑One Day International (ODI) matches live, without any competing broadcasters on the market. The Test leg of the tour is scheduled to unfold across December and January, marking the first time England will travel to South Africa for a Test series in seven years.
This hiatus makes the upcoming series especially significant for both nations, as it offers a fresh set of challenges on unfamiliar pitches and an opportunity for players to adapt to the unique conditions that South African venues present. The series also arrives on the heels of England’s historic home whitewash of Pakistan, a performance that underscored the team’s growing confidence and ambition under the new leadership of Stephen Fleming, who steps into his inaugural series as England’s men’s Test head coach.
Following the Test matches, the itinerary moves into the limited‑overs format with three ODIs slated for January. These games serve a dual purpose: they provide England with valuable preparation ahead of the ICC Men’s World Cup 2027 and give South African fans a chance to see high‑stakes cricket in the lead‑up to the tournament. The 2027 World Cup will be a multi‑nation affair, with matches spread across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia during October and November of next year, making the January ODIs an essential rehearsal for both sides. Sky Sports will deliver an extensive slate of live cricket from the region, not limited to England’s fixtures.
The broadcaster’s schedule also includes the Australian men’s tour, which kicks off this Thursday with the first of three ODIs in Durban, followed by a three‑match Test series. After Australia’s visit, the calendar continues with tours from Bangladesh, the India Women’s side, and the Australia Women’s team, extending the South African cricket season well into April.
This packed itinerary ensures that cricket enthusiasts will have a continuous stream of high‑quality international action throughout the southern hemisphere summer. The partnership between Sky Sports and Cricket South Africa is built on a foundation of more than thirty years of collaboration. Over that period, Sky has consistently provided live coverage of every England men’s Test series played on South African soil, establishing a deep familiarity with the venues, the fan base, and the logistical nuances of broadcasting cricket in the region.
This renewed agreement not only cements Sky’s role as the premier destination for cricket in the UK but also reinforces its commitment to showcasing both men’s and women’s international cricket, as well as domestic competitions. In addition to the England tour, the agreement outlines the broader framework for other high‑profile series that will be aired on Sky Sports.
The Australian tour of South Africa for the 2026/2027 season, the Bangladesh tour, the India Women’s tour, and the Australia Women’s tour are all part of the package, ensuring that viewers have access to a diverse range of cricketing narratives and styles. Each of these tours brings its own storylines – from emerging talent to seasoned veterans – and will be presented with the same production quality and analytical depth that Sky Sports is known for. For fans eager to catch the opening ODI between South Africa’s men and Australia, the match will be broadcast from 8:30 am on Thursday on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports+, with an option to stream via NOW without the need for a long‑term contract.
This flexibility reflects Sky’s strategy to make cricket more accessible to a broader audience, catering both to traditional television viewers and to those who prefer digital streaming. Looking ahead, the men’s Ashes series, set to be played on home soil next summer, is already being billed as a marquee event within Sky’s cricket portfolio. The network’s comprehensive coverage plan, which now includes the England South Africa tour, positions it as the definitive home for cricket fans seeking live action, expert commentary, and in‑depth analysis across all formats of the game.
In summary, the renewed partnership between Sky Sports and Cricket South Africa guarantees that the upcoming England men’s tour – featuring three Tests and three ODIs – will be broadcast exclusively to UK audiences via Sky Sports and NOW. The agreement also encompasses a broader schedule of international tours throughout the South African summer, reinforcing Sky’s status as the leading broadcaster of cricket in the region and ensuring that fans will enjoy uninterrupted, high‑quality coverage of the sport they love.