Australia could play their postponed Test series against South Africa in 2023, according to Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley.
Australia pulled out of the three-Test tour, which was scheduled to take place in February and March this year, because of concerns surrounding the Covid-19 situation in South Africa.
But Hockley said ongoing discussions with Cricket South Africa have left him optimistic the tour will go ahead.
“We've been working over over recent months to look to reschedule,” Hockley said.
“We think we’ve found a window in the calendar in 2023 to to reschedule that tour so our relationships with South Africa, I would say, are very strong.
“And I think what I'd say more broadly under Geoff Allardyce’s leadership is that we, as a collective, the Chief Executive Committee at ICC, I think there's very regular, and open dialogue.
“So, as we said at the time when we were very disappointed, I know our players were extremely disappointed not to be able to go to South Africa so we're pleased that we've been able to find a window in 2023 to reschedule that tour.”
The tour would probably take place in Australia’s winter or spring months after the 2023 World Cup in India but would be unlikely to count towards a future World Test Championship, as the series was originally part of the WTC cycle that was completed this year.
Since Australia last toured South Africa in 2018 - a series marked by the infamous Newlands ball-tampering scandal - they have only played one Test series away from home, the 2019 Ashes in England.
