Table of Contents
The South Africa National Cricket Team Vs Australia Cricket Team Timeline stretches across more than a century and includes Test cricket’s early years, the return of South Africa from international isolation, some of ODI cricket’s most extraordinary run chases, World Cup heartbreak, and a historic World Test Championship final. The rivalry began in 1902 and has evolved through several generations of players, captains and playing styles. Australia have traditionally held the stronger Test record, while South Africa have produced some remarkable limited-overs victories, including the famous 438-run chase in Johannesburg in 2006. In recent years, their contests have remained highly competitive, with the 2023 World Cup and 2025 World Test Championship final providing two particularly significant chapters. This timeline follows the major events, milestones, tournament meetings and memorable performances through September 2026.
Match Timeline
| Year/Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1902 | South Africa and Australia meet for the first time in Test cricket at Johannesburg. |
| 1910-11 | South Africa record their first Test victory over Australia. |
| 1912 | Australia spinner Jimmy Matthews takes two hat-tricks in the same Test against South Africa. |
| 1932 | Australia defeat South Africa by an innings and 72 runs in a Test completed in only 656 deliveries, still recognized as the shortest completed Test. |
| 1952-53 | Australia continue their strong Test record during the South African tour of Australia. |
| 1970 | South Africa’s international isolation interrupts regular bilateral cricket with Australia. |
| 1992 | The teams meet for the first time in an ODI World Cup, with South Africa winning by nine wickets. |
| 1993 | Regular Test cricket between the sides resumes following South Africa’s return to international cricket. |
| 1999 | Australia and South Africa play the dramatic World Cup semi-final that ends in a tie, with Australia progressing to the final. |
| 2006 | South Africa chase Australia’s 434/4 by scoring 438/9 in Johannesburg, creating one of ODI cricket’s defining matches. |
| 2007 | Australia defeat South Africa in the World Cup semi-final in St Lucia. |
| 2012 | Australia defeat South Africa in the World T20 group stage. |
| 2015 | Australia beat South Africa by three wickets in the World Cup quarter-final in Adelaide. |
| 2018 | South Africa win a four-Test home series 3-1, while the Cape Town Test becomes associated with the Australian ball-tampering scandal. |
| 2022 | Australia win a three-Test home series 2-0, with the Sydney Test drawn. |
| 2023 | South Africa defeat Australia by 134 runs in the ODI World Cup group stage. |
| 2023 | Australia defeat South Africa by three wickets in the ODI World Cup semi-final in Kolkata. |
| 2025 | South Africa defeat Australia by five wickets in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s. |
| Aug. 2025 | Australia win the T20I series in Australia 2-1. |
| Sept. 2026 | South Africa defeat Australia in the first two ODIs of their home series and take an unassailable 2-0 lead. |
The opening chapter came in October 1902 at the Old Wanderers in Johannesburg. The first Test was drawn, but Australia won the next two matches of the series. According to the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians, the two nations had played 102 Tests by the 2025 World Test Championship final, with Australia winning 54, South Africa winning 27 and 21 ending in draws.
Memorable Encounters
The First Test Era
The early years were dominated by Australia. South Africa’s first Test victory over Australia did not arrive until the 1910-11 series. The early rivalry nevertheless produced unusual statistical moments.
One of the most remarkable came in 1912, when Australia’s Jimmy Matthews became the only bowler to take two hat-tricks in the same Test. Both sequences came on the same day against South Africa.
Another extraordinary match occurred in Melbourne in 1932. South Africa were dismissed for 36 in their first innings, Australia replied with 153, and the Proteas then collapsed for 45. Australia won by an innings and 72 runs, with the match completed in only 656 deliveries.
Return to International Cricket
South Africa’s sporting isolation meant the rivalry disappeared from the Test calendar for more than two decades. After South Africa returned to international cricket, the teams resumed Test competition in the early 1990s.
That period created a new generation of South African stars, including Allan Donald, Gary Kirsten and Kepler Wessels, while Australia entered an era that would eventually feature players such as Steve Waugh, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Ricky Ponting.
Tournament Meetings
The rivalry has been particularly memorable at ICC tournaments.
1992 World Cup
South Africa’s first Cricket World Cup meeting with Australia came in Sydney on February 26, 1992. South Africa restricted Australia to 170/9 before Kepler Wessels made an unbeaten 81 to guide his team to a nine-wicket victory. Allan Donald contributed three wickets.
The result was important because it showed immediately that South Africa’s return to international cricket would add a major competitor to global tournaments.
1999 World Cup Semi-Final
The 1999 World Cup semi-final remains one of the most famous matches between the teams.
Australia were bowled out for 213. South Africa appeared to have control of the chase before the game entered an extraordinary final over. Lance Klusener struck consecutive boundaries to level the scores, leaving South Africa needing only one run from the remaining deliveries with one wicket in hand.
A mix-up between Klusener and Allan Donald resulted in Donald being run out. The match ended tied at 213, but Australia advanced to the final because they had finished higher in the Super Six standings.
2007 World Cup
Australia again defeated South Africa in a World Cup knockout match, winning the semi-final in St Lucia. The Australian side went on to win the tournament.
2015 World Cup
The teams met in the quarter-final at Adelaide. Australia won by three wickets in another close knockout encounter, continuing their strong tournament record against South Africa.
2023 World Cup
The 2023 tournament produced two very different meetings.
In the group stage at Lucknow, South Africa won by 134 runs after Quinton de Kock’s century helped establish a commanding total. ICC noted that Australia were later a much more confident side when the teams met again in the semi-final.
The semi-final at Eden Gardens was much tighter. South Africa made 212, largely because of David Miller’s century, before Australia chased the target and won by three wickets. The Australian victory sent them into the final.
Important Milestones
1902: Rivalry Begins
The first Test between Australia and South Africa was played at the Old Wanderers in Johannesburg from October 11 to 14, 1902. The match ended in a draw.
1992: First World Cup Meeting
South Africa’s nine-wicket victory in Sydney was their first World Cup match against Australia. It also marked one of the earliest major tournament encounters following South Africa’s international return.
1999: The Tied Semi-Final
The 213-213 scoreline remains central to the history of this rivalry. The final-over run-out involving Klusener and Donald became one of the defining images of World Cup cricket.
2006: The 438 Game
This is arguably the most statistically extraordinary ODI between the teams.
Australia scored 434/4, at that time the highest team total in ODI cricket. Ricky Ponting smashed 164 from 105 balls, while contributions from Adam Gilchrist, Simon Katich and Mike Hussey pushed Australia beyond 400.
South Africa then produced an even more remarkable response. Herschelle Gibbs scored 175 from 111 balls, helping the Proteas reach 438/9 and win the match with one of the most famous successful ODI chases ever recorded.
The match also helped define Johannesburg’s reputation as a venue capable of producing enormous ODI totals.
2018: The Cape Town Test
The 2018 Test series in South Africa became one of the most controversial chapters in Australian cricket. South Africa won the four-Test series 3-1, but the third Test at Newlands became globally known for the ball-tampering incident involving Australian players.
The sporting result and the controversy became separate but connected parts of the history of the rivalry. Australia subsequently underwent major changes in leadership and personnel.
2025: World Test Championship Final
The 2025 World Test Championship final at Lord’s became another defining moment.
Australia, the defending champions, were bowled out for 212 in the first innings. South Africa replied with 138. Australia then made 207 in their second innings, setting South Africa a target of 282.
Aiden Markram scored 136 in the fourth innings and shared a crucial partnership with captain Temba Bavuma. South Africa eventually won by five wickets.
Kagiso Rabada was also central to the result, taking nine wickets in the match. The victory gave South Africa their first World Test Championship title and their first senior ICC men’s trophy since the 1998 Champions Trophy.
Record-Breaking Performances
| Record or Achievement | Player/Team | Match or Year |
|---|---|---|
| 434/4, then an ODI record | Australia | Johannesburg, 2006 |
| 438/9 successful chase | South Africa | Johannesburg, 2006 |
| 175 in the 438 chase | Herschelle Gibbs | 2006 |
| 164 for Australia | Ricky Ponting | 2006 |
| Two hat-tricks in one Test | Jimmy Matthews, Australia | 1912 |
| 36 all out | South Africa | Melbourne, 1932 |
| 45 all out | South Africa | Melbourne, 1932 |
| 299* in a Test innings | Don Bradman, Australia | Adelaide, 1932 |
| 136 in WTC final chase | Aiden Markram, South Africa | Lord’s, 2025 |
| Nine wickets in WTC final | Kagiso Rabada, South Africa | Lord’s, 2025 |
The 2006 ODI remains the clearest example of how quickly this rivalry can turn into a batting contest. Australia’s 434/4 was extraordinary at the time, but South Africa’s 438/9 made the Australian total secondary by the end of the evening.
Head-to-Head Record
The overall record changes depending on the format, so separating Tests, ODIs and T20Is gives a clearer picture.
| Format | Matches | Australia Wins | South Africa Wins | Other Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests through 2025 | 102 | 54 | 27 | 21 draws |
| ODIs through Sept. 2026 | 112 | 51 | 57 | 3 ties, 1 no result |
| T20Is through 2025 | 28 | 19 | 9 | 0 |
The Test numbers come from the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians, which records 102 Tests through the 2025 Lord’s final.
For ODIs, the teams had met 110 times through 2023, with South Africa holding a 55-51 advantage, three ties and one no-result. South Africa then won the first two ODIs of the September 2026 series, moving their advantage to 57 wins in 112 meetings.
In T20Is, Australia held a 19-9 advantage after the three-match 2025 series, which Australia won 2-1.
Recent Meetings
2022-23 Test Series
Australia hosted South Africa for three Tests during the 2022-23 summer. Australia won the first two Tests in Brisbane and Melbourne, while the Sydney Test was drawn.
The Melbourne victory was particularly emphatic, with Australia winning by an innings and 182 runs.
2023 ODI Series
Before the World Cup, Australia toured South Africa for five ODIs. The series produced a significant swing in momentum, with South Africa winning the final four matches after Australia took the opening game.
South Africa subsequently carried that momentum into the World Cup group stage, where they beat Australia by 134 runs.
2023 World Cup Semi-Final
Australia reversed the result when it mattered most, defeating South Africa by three wickets at Eden Gardens. The victory sent Australia into another World Cup final.
2025 T20I Series
Australia hosted South Africa for three T20Is in August 2025. Australia won the opening match by 17 runs, South Africa responded with a 53-run victory in the second, and Australia won the decider by two wickets.
2025 World Test Championship Final
South Africa’s five-wicket win at Lord’s was the most significant recent Test result between the sides. Markram’s 136 became the centerpiece of a successful fourth-innings chase, while Rabada’s nine wickets helped South Africa overcome the defending champions.
2026 ODI Series
The latest chapter is being written in South Africa.
The three-match ODI series began in Durban on September 24, 2026. South Africa made 297/8, led by Matthew Breetzke’s 112 from 106 balls and Marco Jansen’s aggressive 75 from 59. Australia were dismissed for 230, giving South Africa a 67-run victory.
The second ODI at Johannesburg followed on September 27. South Africa scored 365/9 and won by 32 runs, taking an unassailable 2-0 series lead. David Miller and Temba Bavuma both scored centuries in the run-heavy contest.
The third ODI is scheduled for September 30 at Potchefstroom. The two teams are then scheduled to play three World Test Championship matches in October, beginning in Durban on October 9.
Why This Rivalry Matters
The history of these two teams is unusual because it contains several different eras.
Australia dominated much of the early Test history. South Africa then disappeared from international competition during the apartheid-era sporting isolation. After returning, the Proteas developed into a major force in both Test and limited-overs cricket.
Their meetings have repeatedly produced matches where a single moment changed the outcome. The 1999 run-out is one example. The 2006 chase is another. The 2023 World Cup semi-final demonstrated how a team can recover from a heavy group-stage defeat and win a knockout rematch.
The 2025 World Test Championship final added another dimension. South Africa had previously experienced several close calls in ICC competitions, while Australia entered the match as defending WTC champions. Markram’s fourth-innings century ultimately decided the contest and gave South Africa their first WTC title.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When did South Africa and Australia first play each other?
South Africa and Australia first played a Test match in October 1902 at the Old Wanderers in Johannesburg. The match was drawn, while Australia won the next two Tests of that series.
2. What is the most famous ODI between South Africa and Australia?
The 2006 Johannesburg ODI is widely remembered for its extraordinary scoring. Australia made 434/4, including Ricky Ponting’s 164, before South Africa chased the target with 438/9. Herschelle Gibbs scored 175 during the chase.
3. What happened in the 1999 World Cup semi-final?
The 1999 World Cup semi-final ended with both teams scoring 213. South Africa needed only one run from the final over with one wicket remaining, but a run-out involving Lance Klusener and Allan Donald ended their chase. Australia advanced because of their superior Super Six position.
4. Who won the 2025 World Test Championship final?
South Africa defeated Australia by five wickets at Lord’s on June 14, 2025. Aiden Markram scored 136 in the successful fourth-innings chase, while Kagiso Rabada took nine wickets across the match.
5. What is the latest result between South Africa and Australia?
As of September 28, 2026, South Africa have won the first two ODIs of their three-match home series against Australia. They won the first match in Durban by 67 runs and the second in Johannesburg by 32 runs, giving the Proteas an unassailable 2-0 series lead. The third ODI is scheduled for September 30 in Potchefstroom.
Conclusion
The history between South Africa and Australia is built on more than the number of matches played. It includes the early dominance of Australia in Test cricket, South Africa’s long absence from international competition, the unforgettable 1999 World Cup finish, the record-breaking 2006 ODI chase, the controversy surrounding the 2018 Cape Town Test, and the dramatic 2023 World Cup encounters. The 2025 World Test Championship final added one of the most important results to the rivalry when South Africa defeated Australia by five wickets at Lord’s. By September 2026, the teams had added another chapter, with South Africa taking a 2-0 ODI series lead at home. With another three-Test WTC series scheduled for October 2026, the rivalry continues to evolve across formats and generations.
