Watch South Africa vs Australia 2026 1st Test: Live Streams

South Africa vs Australia 2026 1st Test: October 9-13 Daily start time: 8.30am BST / 3.30am ET / 6.30 AEDT Live streams: Sky Sports (UK) / Willow TV via Sling (US) / Kayo Sports (FREE TRIAL) (AUS) Unlock your stream with NordVPN (save up to 75%) The South Africa vs Australia 1st Test 2026 could scarcely be dripping in more narrative.

Eight years have passed since the Aussies last played a five-day game in the Rainbow Nation, with then captain Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft conspiring to use sandpaper to rough up the ball.

The scandal, and attempted coverup, has dominated chatter between Test cricket's top two sides ever since.

Smith is the only member of that trio still in the Australia setup and you can bet the 37-year-old batter, who received a 12-month ban for his role in the ball-tampering affair, will cop for some stick.

Keeping matters on the pitch, South Africa-born Marnus Labuschagne scored his first century in any form of cricket for a year in the warmup game against a Cricket South Africa Invitation XI to likely keep his place at first drop despite no century in a Test match dating back to the Ashes in 2023.

Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Matt Renshaw should all feature but Cameron Green will miss out with an abdominal strain for Pat Cummins' side.

Nic Maddinson or Cooper Connolly will be Green's likely replacement, the former hasn't played first-class cricket in 19 months.

South Africa will be buoyed by dominating much of the recent ODI series between the sides.

Temba Bavuma will again lead the side, with Marques Ackerman expected to make his debut at No.3 in a trial by fire against Australia's fearsome attack.

Kagiso Rabada has bowled in an intra-squad match and a late decision will be made on whether the fast bowler will be fit.

Anrich Nortje returns to the side, while Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj spun India into defeat last November and will look to put pressure on an Australian batting lineup that has notably faltered in recent series.

This is the first of a three-match series between the world top two-ranked Test sides, with Port Elizabeth and Cape Town to follow.

Read on as we explain how to watch the South Africa vs Australia 2026 1st Test online, on TV and potentially for free wherever you are.

Can I watch South Africa vs Australia 1st Test 2026 for free? Unfortunately, there are no dedicated free live streams for the South Africa vs Australia 1st Test.