The third Test between the Proteas and England has been sold out at Newlands Cricket Ground.

• Tickets for the New Year’s Test between the Proteas and England at Newlands are already sold out, months in advance of the fixture.
• Cricket South Africa announced on Monday morning that ticket sales were open for the international cricket season in South Africa, but Cape Town fans were stunned when all four days were reportedly already sold out.
• Cricket SA has confirmed that the third Test at Newlands is sold out.
• For more, visit News24’s Proteas section.

Tickets for the New Year’s Test between the Proteas and England at Newlands have already sold out on the same day that they were opened to the general public on Monday.

On Monday, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced the sale of International Inbound tickets for the Proteas men and women’s 2026/27 home schedule, which was made available via CSA’s website and new mobile app.

The Proteas, who are the reigning World Test Championship champions, take on Australia (three Tests), Bangladesh (two Tests) and England (three Tests) at home in all-format series tours.

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High demand centres on England’s first red-ball series in South Africa since 2019, especially the New Year’s Test in Cape Town from 3-7 January 2027.

The final of three Tests against Ben Stokes’ charges in Cape Town has already been sold out, months before the first ball is bowled.

The Newlands Test was sold out for the first four days (tickets for day five are not for sale as yet as Tests rarely reach a fifth day) though tickets remained available for all other matches in the all-format series and South Africa’s 2026/27 home schedule.

What remains uncertain is whether or not tickets for the Newlands Test were sold out before CSA announced it was open for business at 09:30 on Monday morning.

News24 understands it was not a mistake and that the third Test at Newlands is “sold out” despite the advertised ticket sale start time at 09:30 (SA time).

Cricket SA posted about the Newlands Test being sold out on social media on Monday, then swiftly deleted it.

Already, tickets for the New Year’s Test have been made available on resale services such as viagogo for exorbitant prices.

England supporter group the Barmy Army and others have been allocated dedicated sections at Newlands, though ticket distribution details for the third Test remain unclear.

Cricket SA has been contacted for comment, but has yet to speak over the ticket distribution process.

Newlands can accommodate up to 25 000 spectators, and during the off-season will undergo some renovations ahead of the 2027 Cricket World Cup.

Newlands will also host the third Test against Australia from 27-31 October, marking the first meeting between the rivals since the Sandpaper scandal.

Tickets for that Test are still available, ranging from upwards of R245.