South Africa A are touring England from 22 May to 9 June 2026 for two unofficial Tests and three unofficial ODIs against the England Lions.
Furthermore, the tourists have already wrapped up the four-day series 2-0, with both wins coming by eight wickets. Now the focus shifts to the white-ball leg, which begins at Leicester on 5 June.
Below, you will find the complete schedule, both squads, match results and standout performer numbers from the series so far.
South Africa A Tour of England 2026: Full Schedule
The tour packs five fixtures across three venues in just under three weeks. Moreover, the white-ball leg is condensed into five days. Here is the complete fixture list, with results updated as of 6 June 2026.
| # | Match | Date | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1st Unofficial Test | 22-25 May 2026 | Arundel Castle Ground | SA A won by 8 wickets |
| 2 | 2nd Unofficial Test | 29-31 May 2026 | County Ground, Beckenham | SA A won by 8 wickets |
| 3 | 1st Unofficial ODI | 5 June 2026 | Grace Road, Leicester | SA A won by 9 wickets |
| 4 | 2nd Unofficial ODI | 7 June 2026 | New Road, Worcester | 11:00 AM local |
| 5 | 3rd Unofficial ODI | 9 June 2026 | New Road, Worcester | 11:00 AM local |
Results So Far: South Africa A Sweep the Four-Day Series 2-0
South Africa A wrapped up the unofficial Test series 2-0, winning both matches by eight wickets. Consequently, the England Lions slumped to back-to-back defeats despite some standout individual efforts.
Specifically, Asa Tribe and Ben Mayes hit centuries at Arundel, while Ekansh Singh top-scored at Beckenham with a gritty 95.
1st Unofficial Test, Arundel: Ackerman Hits 173
Captain Marques Ackerman scored a brilliant 173 as South Africa A posted 331 in the first innings. In reply, England Lions managed only 157 first up but fought back with Asa Tribe’s 135 and Ben Mayes’ 105, setting the tourists a target of 215.
However, half-centuries from Lesego Senokwane, Jordan Hermann (70*) and Zubayr Hamza (54*) saw South Africa A chase it down for the loss of just two wickets before lunch on day four. As a result, the visitors went 1-0 up in style.
2nd Unofficial Test, Beckenham: Van Vuuren’s 11-Wicket Haul
At Beckenham, left-arm seamer Tiaan van Vuuren picked up career-best figures of 6/52 and 11 wickets in the match. England Lions, who chose to bat, were bundled out for 193 and then 158 second up. Therefore, South Africa A only needed 74 to win and knocked them off inside 17.2 overs.
Notably, Jordan Hermann backed up his Arundel form with 32* in the chase after scoring a first-innings century. Furthermore, Ekansh Singh’s 95 was the lone bright spot for the Lions in the first innings. (Source: Cricket World match report)
South Africa A and England Lions Squads 2026
Both teams named separate squads for the red-ball and white-ball legs. Additionally, Marques Ackerman captains South Africa A across both formats, while Dan Mousley leads the England Lions in the first-class matches.
South Africa A Four-Day Squad
Marques Ackerman (c), Ottneil Baartman, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Zubayr Hamza, Jordan Hermann, Rubin Hermann, Nqobani Mokoena, Dane Paterson, Sinethemba Qeshile, Lesego Senokwane, Jason Smith, Prenelan Subrayen, Tiaan van Vuuren, Codi Yusuf.
South Africa A One-Day Squad
Marques Ackerman (c), Ottneil Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Connor Esterhuizen, Dian Forrester, Bjorn Fortuin, Rubin Hermann, Kwena Maphaka, Nqobani Mokoena, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dré Pretorius, Sinethemba Qeshile, Jason Smith, Prenelan Subrayen.
England Lions Squad
England named seven uncapped players across the red-ball matches. Specifically, the Lions XI at Beckenham featured Dan Mousley (c), Ben McKinney, Asa Tribe, Rehan Ahmed, Ben Geddes, Ben Mayes (wk), Ekansh Singh, Liam Patterson-White, Eddie Jack, Henry Crocombe, and Naavya Sharma. Charlie Allison and Mitchell Stanley also featured in the Arundel Test.
Key Stats From the Four-Day Series
Below are the standout numbers across the two unofficial Tests, drawn from official scorecards.
| Player | Team | Best Score | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marques Ackerman | South Africa A | 173 | 1st Test, Arundel |
| Asa Tribe | England Lions | 135 | 1st Test, Arundel |
| Jordan Hermann | South Africa A | 100+ & 32* | 2nd Test, Beckenham |
| Ben Mayes | England Lions | 105 | 1st Test, Arundel |
| Ekansh Singh | England Lions | 95 | 2nd Test, Beckenham |
| Player | Team | Best Figures | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiaan van Vuuren | South Africa A | 6/52 (11/105 match) | 2nd Test, Beckenham |
| Mitchell Stanley | England Lions | 3/77 | 1st Test, Arundel |
| Nqobani Mokoena | South Africa A | 3/75 | 1st Test, Arundel |
| Eddie Jack | England Lions | 4-wicket haul | 2nd Test, Beckenham |
| Henry Crocombe | England Lions | 4-wicket haul | 2nd Test, Beckenham |
Players to Watch in the ODI Leg
With the white-ball leg now underway, several players carry serious momentum into Leicester and Worcester.
Marques Ackerman (SA A captain)
After his 173 at Arundel, the Dolphins left-hander leads the visitors with both bat and head. Furthermore, he plays English club cricket for Chorley CC, so the conditions are familiar territory.
Gerald Coetzee (SA A)
The Proteas fast bowler joins the white-ball squad fresh and rested. Notably, he did not feature in the four-day series, which means England Lions batters will face a properly sharp new-ball spell on 5 June.
Kwena Maphaka (SA A)
The teenage left-arm quick brings raw pace to the ODI attack. Moreover, after Van Vuuren’s 11-wicket haul in red-ball cricket, England Lions face yet another awkward left-arm angle in the white-ball games.
Rehan Ahmed (England Lions)
The leg-spinner was unbeaten on 44 at stumps on day two at Beckenham. Therefore, he should feature in the ODI XI and offers genuine wrist-spin threat in middle overs.
Ben McKinney (England Lions)
The Durham opener is widely tipped as a future England white-ball pick. As a result, scores in this series carry real selection weight ahead of the home international summer.
Venues for the ODI Series
Two famous county grounds host the three white-ball matches.
- Grace Road, Leicester (1st ODI, 5 June): Home of Leicestershire CCC. Generally batting-friendly with shortish square boundaries; pacers get some help in the morning session.
- New Road, Worcester (2nd & 3rd ODIs, 7 & 9 June): One of England’s most picturesque grounds, set beside Worcester Cathedral. Typically a good-paced wicket where 280-plus is a competitive total.
Where to Watch South Africa A vs England Lions Live
England Lions home matches are streamed live and free on the ECB YouTube channel in territories where rights allow, while ECB.co.uk carries live scorecards and ball-by-ball updates. In addition, Indian viewers can follow live scores on ESPNcricinfo and Cricbuzz. South African fans can track updates via cricket.co.za and SuperSport’s digital platforms.
What’s at Stake for Both Sides
For South Africa A, this tour is a direct selection window. Specifically, the Proteas play eight home Tests next season, and head coach Wandile Gwavu has openly said England conditions are the toughest test for fringe players. Therefore, performances here directly feed into senior squad picks for the home summer.
For the England Lions, the brief is different. Notably, this is a development tour packed with uncapped names, and after two heavy defeats, batters in particular need ODI runs to push their case. Furthermore, with England’s senior white-ball schedule busy through autumn, a Lions hundred at Worcester rarely goes unnoticed by selectors. (Source: Wisden)
Conclusion
The South Africa A tour of England 2026 has so far been a one-sided affair, with the visitors sealing the four-day leg 2-0 thanks to Ackerman’s 173 and Van Vuuren’s 11-wicket haul.
However, the ODI leg from 5 to 9 June offers England Lions a fresh slate, with Gerald Coetzee and Kwena Maphaka adding firepower to an already confident South African side.
Consequently, expect plenty of selection drama as both camps eye their senior international summers.
