The 4-Day Series is the country’s premier first-class cricket competition. It is one of the oldest and most established tournaments in the world, steeped in history and dating back to 1889/90.

It has evolved through several changes over more than a century, initially being a provincial contest, then shifting to a franchise system in 2004, before returning to a traditional provincial structure in 2021.

It is the highest stage for aspiring international cricketers and remains a vital pathway for South Africa’s best and most consistent players to represent the Proteas offering high-quality red-ball cricket and fostering talent development nationwide. Today, 15 teams compete across two divisions, with promotion and relegation adding competitive intensity. Matches are played over four days in almost every corner of the country with the tournament currently following a single round-robin format followed by a final between the top two teams.