South Africa to expand domestic cricket season to strengthen Proteas — TimesLIVE
South Africa’s 2026/27 domestic cricket season will be held in an expanded format: teams will play more matches, while T20 tournaments will provide broader interaction between the two divisions. Cricket South Africa introduced the changes to increase playing opportunities and strengthen the reserve pool for the national Proteas team, TimesLIVE reports.
Ten matches in the first division
The new season begins on Thursday with matches involving all eight first-division teams. Most Proteas players, including Test captain Temba Bavuma, are expected to play for their provincial teams in the opening round. This follows instructions from Proteas head coach Shukri Conrad, who wants nationally contracted players to gain match practice before the international season begins in three weeks.
Lions captain in the four-day format Dominic Hendricks supported the decision to hold 10 matches in the first-class competition. In previous seasons, teams played seven matches each, which experienced players and coaches believed did not give cricketers enough opportunities to perform in different conditions. Hendricks noted that in a shorter tournament, a team could remain among the contenders for high places by drawing matches and winning two or three games, taking bonus points into account.
Changes for the second division
The seven second-division teams will play three-day matches. This will make it possible to stage a 50-over series the day after a red-ball match ends. Such a system was previously used in England and is intended to partly reduce the financial burden that the expanded competition structure creates for Cricket South Africa.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Former South Africa fast bowler Allan Donald, who is beginning his third season as DP World Lions bowling coach, positively assessed the higher number of red-ball matches. According to him, players are increasingly talking about wanting to make the Proteas Test team, and after calling for more matches, it is time to take advantage of the new opportunities.
Squad depth pressure
The 2026/27 season will also be busy internationally: the Proteas will play eight Tests, nine one-day internationals and three T20 matches. The SA A team will play England Lions in three one-day matches and two four-day fixtures. These additional matches will take place simultaneously with Proteas games and may put pressure on the squad depth of provincial teams, as happened last season.
After Cricket South Africa held talks with the provinces, the promotion and relegation system was revised: it will be determined over two seasons rather than one. The organisation also introduced the Players of National Interest contract system, which is intended to reduce the financial difficulties faced by provinces.
