The captain of a cricket team, often referred to as the skipper, is the appointed leader, having several additional roles and responsibilities over and above those of the other players. As in other sports, the captain is usually experienced and has good communication skills, and is likely to be one of the most regular members of the team, as the captain is responsible for the team selection. Before the game the captains toss for innings. During the match the captain decides the team's batting order, who will bowl each over, and where each fielder will be positioned. While the captain has the final say, decisions are often collaborative. A captain's knowledge of the complexities of cricket strategy and tactics, and shrewdness in the field, may contribute significantly to the team's success.
The Afghanistan men's national cricket team represents Afghanistan in men's international cricket. It is a full Member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) with Test, One-Day International (ODI) and T20 International (T20I) status.
Temba Bavuma is a South African international cricketer who is the current captain of the South African cricket team in Tests and ODI cricket, and formerly captained in T20I. He is now predominantly a right-handed opening batsman. He was the first black African cricketer to make a Test century for South Africa and the first to captain the side. Bavuma is one of three South African cricketers to score a century on ODI debut, scoring 113 runs against Ireland in September 2016.
Aiden Kyle Markram is a South African cricketer who is the current captain of the South Africa national cricket team in Twenty20 International cricket and former captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League. Markram had captained the South African under-19 cricket team to win the 2014 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. In the 2018 South African Cricket Annual, he was named as one of the five “Cricketers of the Year”. Markram was described by former captain and batsman Graeme Smith as a future South Africa captain. He made his international debut for South Africa in September 2017. He is currently the captain of Sunrisers eastern cape of the SA20 league which was formed in 2022, who successfully won the cup in 2023 and 2024.
The West Indies cricket team toured South Africa from 10 December 2014 to 28 January 2015. The tour consisted of three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), three Test matches and five One Day Internationals (ODIs). With South Africa's 2–0 win in the Test series, they retained the number one position in the Test rankings.
The Irish national cricket team toured South Africa in September 2016. They played two One day internationals, one each against South Africa and Australia. They lost heavily in both matches, by 206 runs against South Africa and by nine wickets against Australia. Their match against South Africa was the first ODI to use the updated rules to the DRS system, which brought more of the stumps into play for LBW decisions.
The Bangladesh cricket team toured South Africa in September and October 2017 to play two Tests, three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and two Twenty20 International (T20I) matches. It was Bangladesh's first tour of South Africa in nine years. Ahead of the series, Faf du Plessis was appointed captain of South Africa's ODI side, replacing AB de Villiers, therefore captaining South Africa in all three formats. However, du Plessis suffered an injury during the third ODI ruling him out of the T20I series, with JP Duminy replacing him as captain.
The India cricket team toured South Africa in January and February 2018 to play three Tests, six One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 International (T20I) matches. In January 2017, Cricket South Africa (CSA) revealed that this tour would replace the scheduled visit by Sri Lanka due to costs and scheduling congestion. The Test series was played for the Freedom Trophy, with South Africa winning the trophy following victories in the first two Tests. South Africa went on to win the Test series 2–1. It was the first Test series of three matches or more in which all 40 wickets fell in each match of the series. With India's win the third Test, they retained the number one place in the ICC Test Championship, taking an unassailable lead before the April 2018 cut-off date for next season's rankings.
The Sri Lanka cricket team toured South Africa in February and March 2019 to play two Tests, five One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 International (T20I) matches. The ODI fixtures were part of both teams' preparation for the 2019 Cricket World Cup.
The Bangladesh cricket team toured India to play three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) against the Afghanistan cricket team in Dehradun.
The England cricket team toured South Africa from December 2019 to February 2020 to play four Tests, three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 International (T20I) matches. The Test series formed part of the inaugural 2019–2021 ICC World Test Championship. Cricket South Africa confirmed the fixtures for the tour in May 2019.
The 2023 Cricket World Cup group stage was played in a round-robin league format, with all ten teams playing each other once in a single group, resulting in a total of 45 matches being played. The top four teams from the group progressed to the knockout stage. This format was the same as the preceding 2019 Cricket World Cup and was also used in the 1992 Cricket World Cup.
The South Africa cricket team toured Sri Lanka in September 2021 to play three One Day International (ODI) and three Twenty20 International (T20I) matches. The ODI series formed part of the inaugural 2020–2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Super League.
The Pakistan cricket team toured South Africa in April 2021 to play three One Day International (ODI) and four Twenty20 International (T20I) matches. The ODI series formed part of the inaugural 2020–2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Super League.
The India cricket team toured South Africa from December 2021 and January 2022 to play three Tests and three One Day International (ODI) matches. The Test matches formed part of the 2021–2023 ICC World Test Championship.
The Bangladesh cricket team toured South Africa in March and April 2022 to play two Tests and three One Day International (ODI) matches. The Test series formed part of the 2021–2023 ICC World Test Championship, and the ODI series formed part of the inaugural 2020–2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Super League. On 9 February 2022, Cricket South Africa confirmed the schedule and venues for the series.
The South Africa cricket team toured England from July to September 2022 to play three Test matches, three One Day International (ODI) and three Twenty20 International (T20I) matches. The Test matches formed part of the 2021–2023 ICC World Test Championship. In addition to the matches against England, South Africa had also played two T20I matches against the Ireland cricket team in Bristol.
The West Indies men's cricket team toured South Africa in February and March 2023 to play two Test matches, three One Day International (ODI) and three Twenty20 International (T20I) matches. The Test matches formed part of the 2021–2023 ICC World Test Championship. Cricket South Africa (CSA) confirmed the fixtures for the tour in October 2022.
The England cricket team toured South Africa in January and February 2023 to play three One Day International (ODI) matches. These matches formed part of the inaugural 2020–2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Super League, having been postponed during England's tour of South Africa in December 2020 due to a COVID-19 outbreak. The first two matches were played in Bloemfontein, and the last match in Kimberley.
The Pakistan cricket team toured the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in March 2023 to play three Twenty20 International (T20I) matches against the Afghanistan cricket team. This was the first bilateral series in any format of international cricket between the two teams.
