Melbourne, Jul 19: South Africa will play its first cricket test at Brisbane's Gabba ground in nearly 50 years when the Proteas take on Australia in the opener of a three-test series beginning Nov. 9, part of a 2012-13 home schedule that also includes Sri Lanka and West Indies.
Cricket Australia said Thursday that the second South Africa test will be from Nov. 22-26 at the Adelaide Oval, followed by the third from Nov. 30-Dec. 4 at the WACA Ground in Perth.
In the last Australia-South Africa test played at the Gabba in December 1963, a Richie Benaud-led Australia drew with a South Africa team featuring six debutantes including left-handed batting ace Graeme Pollock.
That match was also known for being Ian Meckiff's last after he was no-balled for throwing four times in his only over.
South Africa beat Australia 2-1 when they last toured in 2008-09, and drew 1-1 with Michael Clarke's side when they met in a two-match series last year in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
The Proteas can go No.1 in the test rankings if they beat England in a three-test series starting Thursday in Britain.
Sri Lanka will play three tests against Australia -- Dec. 14-18 in Hobart, the traditional Boxing Day match from Dec. 26-30 in Melbourne and from Jan. 3-7 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
If former captain Ricky Ponting plays all three tests against South Africa, he will equal Steve Waugh as Australia's most-capped test cricketer, and Ponting would then move ahead at his home ground at Bellerive Oval in Hobart.
Waugh, a now-retired former captain, played 168 tests for Australia while Ponting has played 165.
Australia's summer season continues with five one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches against Sri Lanka in January, followed by five ODIs and one Twenty20 match against the West Indies in February.
