Cricket never really stops, which makes it tough to keep track of who’s playing whom. This is the upcoming bilateral cricket series 2026 calendar in one place: ten tours running into early March 2027, with dates, formats and venues, checked against the home boards’ announcements on 13 November 2026. The short version? Bangladesh start in South Africa on 15 November, and Australia host New Zealand for four Tests from 9 December.
Which bilateral series are on right now?
Three tours are already underway. England are in Australia, with the first ODI in Perth today. India are in New Zealand, where the ODI leg finishes on 15 November before two Tests. And Sri Lanka are in Pakistan for a two-Test series that began on 9 November. Everything else below is still to come.
What’s the full schedule for the upcoming bilateral cricket series 2026?
Here’s every men’s series still to run in the 2026–27 season, in order of start date. Yes, plenty of it lands in 2027. That’s just how the cricket calendar works.
| Series | Format | Dates |
| England in Australia | 3 ODIs, 5 T20Is | 13 Nov–2 Dec |
| India in New Zealand | 2 ODIs, 2 Tests left | 13 Nov–1 Dec |
| Sri Lanka in Pakistan | 2 Tests | 9–21 Nov |
| Bangladesh in South Africa | 2 Tests, 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is | 15 Nov–13 Dec |
| New Zealand in Australia | 4 Tests | 9 Dec–8 Jan |
| India v Sri Lanka | 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is | 13–27 Dec |
| England in South Africa | 3 Tests, 3 ODIs | 17 Dec–15 Jan |
| Zimbabwe in India | 3 ODIs | 3–9 Jan |
| Sri Lanka in New Zealand | 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is, 2 Tests | 16 Jan–16 Feb |
| Australia in India | 5 Tests | 21 Jan–3 Mar |
Dates are as published by each home board. After this lot, February 2027 brings West Indies v Afghanistan, Bangladesh v England and Sri Lanka v South Africa. March adds Pakistan v New Zealand, Afghanistan v Ireland, and the one-off 150th Anniversary Test between Australia and England at the MCG from 11 to 15 March.
When and where are the matches?
November
- Pakistan v Sri Lanka: second Test in Lahore, 17–21 November.
- India in New Zealand: last two ODIs in Tauranga on 13 and 15 November, then Tests in Wellington (19–23 November) and Christchurch (27 November–1 December).
- England in Australia: ODIs in Perth, Adelaide and Hobart on 13, 15 and 18 November, then T20Is at the MCG (21st), Gold Coast (24th), the Gabba (27th), the SCG (29th) and Canberra (2 December).
- Bangladesh in South Africa: Tests at the Wanderers (15–19 November) and Centurion (23–27 November).
December
- New Zealand in Australia: Perth (9–13 December), Adelaide (17–21), the MCG (26–30), then the SCG (4–8 January).
- India v Sri Lanka: ODIs in Delhi (13 December), Bengaluru (16th) and Ahmedabad (19th), then T20Is in Rajkot (22nd), Cuttack (24th) and Pune (27th).
- Bangladesh in South Africa, white-ball leg: ODIs in East London (1 December), Gqeberha (4th) and Cape Town (7th), then T20Is in Kimberley (10th), Benoni (12th) and Centurion (13th).
- England in South Africa: the first Test starts at the Wanderers on 17 December.
January and beyond
- Zimbabwe in India: ODIs in Kolkata (3 January), Hyderabad (6th) and Mumbai (9th).
- England in South Africa: Tests at Centurion (26–30 December) and Cape Town (3–7 January), then ODIs in Paarl (10 January) and Bloemfontein (13th and 15th).
- Sri Lanka in New Zealand: ODIs from 16 January, T20Is from 26 January, then Tests in Tauranga (4–8 February) and Hamilton (12–16 February).
- Australia in India: the Border-Gavaskar Trophy starts in Nagpur on 21 January.
What makes the 2026–27 season different?
Two things stand out. The first is sheer size: India’s tour of New Zealand runs to twelve matches, five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests, which New Zealand Cricket describes as the largest inbound series in its history. The second is Australia’s workload. They play ten Tests in 14 weeks between December and March: four against New Zealand, five in India, then the anniversary Test at the MCG.
There’s a points angle too. Every Test series in the table above counts towards the 2025–27 World Test Championship: Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Bangladesh in South Africa, New Zealand in Australia, England in South Africa, India in New Zealand, Sri Lanka in New Zealand and Australia in India. That’s why a two-Test series in Lahore or Hamilton matters more than it looks on paper. The white-ball tours carry no WTC points, which makes them the relaxed option if you just want a good evening of cricket.
Which series should you watch first?
Clear your Boxing Day. Australia v New Zealand at the MCG (26–30 December) is the pick of the summer, and it’s the Black Caps’ first series of more than three Tests since 1999. One catch: England v South Africa at Centurion starts the same day, so you’ll be flicking between two Tests. The 17–21 December window has the same clash, with Adelaide against the Wanderers.
Want something shorter? England’s five T20Is in Australia are the easy win, all done inside two weeks. And the big one waits in the new year: India v Australia is five Tests from Nagpur to Ahmedabad (27 February–3 March), part of the World Test Championship race, with Chennai, Guwahati and Ranchi in between.
How do you follow the matches without losing sleep?
Start times matter more than dates, because the hosts are scattered across the globe. The Perth Test against New Zealand starts at 10:20am local time, which is 2:20am in London. Every home board, from Cricket Australia to the BCCI, Cricket South Africa and New Zealand Cricket, posts official start times and ticket links. Add the fixtures you actually care about to your phone calendar once, then forget about it until match day. You’ll miss fewer sessions, and your sleep schedule will thank you for choosing carefully.
Bilateral cricket series FAQs
Can these dates change?
Yes. The home boards have confirmed them, but weather, security or broadcast changes can shift fixtures, so check the host board’s website before booking travel or tickets.
What is a bilateral cricket series?
It’s a series between two teams, usually hosted by one of them, rather than a multi-team event like a World Cup. The ICC’s Future Tours Programme is built so Test nations host and visit each other over a ten-year cycle.
Which bilateral series start next?
Bangladesh’s tour of South Africa opens with a Test at the Wanderers on 15 November. Pakistan v Sri Lanka’s second Test starts in Lahore on 17 November, and India’s first Test in New Zealand starts in Wellington on 19 November.
When is the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2027?
It runs from 21 January to 3 March 2027 across five Tests: Nagpur, Chennai, Guwahati, Ranchi and Ahmedabad.
How many Tests will Australia play against New Zealand?
Four, between 9 December and 8 January, in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.
Can these dates change?
Yes. The home boards have confirmed them, but weather, security or broadcast changes can shift fixtures, so check the host board’s website before booking travel or tickets.
Ready to plan your cricket calendar?
Bookmark this page, circle 26 December, and check the host board’s site before you buy tickets. The upcoming bilateral cricket series 2026 schedule is packed, so pick two or three tours and follow them properly. Start with the Boxing Day Test, then work outward from there. Share it with whoever keeps asking who’s playing.
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