Australia start a Test tour of South Africa with the first of three matches in Durban, marking their first long-format series there since the 2018 “Sandpapergate” incident. The teams also reference the broader period in which South Africa played Tests in Australia following the scandal, while Australia toured South Africa for limited-overs internationals in the interim.

Outlets describe the tour as drawing additional attention because it is the first Test on African soil between the two sides since 2018. Sky Sports and other reports frame the opening match as part of a contest between the top teams in the world rankings, setting the context for what is expected to be a high-profile return to Test cricket in South Africa after years of scheduling separation and limited-overs engagements.