Schedule announced for India's tour of South Africa; Boxing day Test returns

Cricket South Africa (CSA) have announced the schedule for India’s tour of South Africa 2013/14. The series comprises of two T20s, seven ODIs and three Test matches beginning on November 18, with a T20 tour match between India and South Africa Invitation XI, at Potchefstroom.

The limited-overs leg of the tour starts from November 18 and runs till December 15. It is a surprise this time around that the matches have been spread across the country with smaller venues like East London and Bloemfontein getting a chance to host 3rd and 6th ODI respectively.

But the big announcement which will come as a relief to many cricket fans is - the return of traditional Boxing Day Test in South African calendar for the next season as both countries will play first of the three Tests matches at Durban.

CSA deleted the fixture last season and instead played three T20s against New Zealand during that period in the hope of getting bigger audiences at stadiums. There was a public outcry against this decision of CSA, and as a result with India visiting this season, the administrators have lined-up the Boxing Day match at Kingsmead in Durban, the traditional home of this fixture.

India will begin Test leg of the tour with two warm-up matches, followed by three Tests, which will be held in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg to conclude the tour.

Fixtures list for India’s tour of South Africa 2013/14:

18 November: T20 Tour match, India v SA Invitation XI, Potchefstroom (Day/Night)

21 November: 1st T20 International, Johannesburg (Day/Night)

24 November: 2nd T20 International, Cape Town (Day)

27 November: 1st ODI, Durban (Day/Night)

30 November: 2nd ODI, Port Elizabeth (Day)

3 December: 3rd ODI, East London (Day/Night)

6 December: 4th ODI, Centurion (Day/Night)

8 December: 5th ODI, Johannesburg (Day)

12 December: 6th ODI, Bloemfontein (Day/Night)

15 December: 7th ODI, Cape Town (Day)

18-19 December: India v SA Invitation XI, Paarl

22-23 December: India v SA Invitation XI, Pietermaritzburg

26-30 December: 1st Test, Durban

2-6 January: 2nd Test, Cape Town

15-19 January: 3rd Test, Johannesburg