Rivalries in cricket are more than numbers and results; they are about moments that people will remember forever. Of all these quarrels, the Australian Mens Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team timeline has, without a doubt, stood out as one of the most exciting in the history of the game. Each nation has a rich tradition of playing cricket, a malice towards each other, and some of the best cricketers ever to play the game and they have displayed some of the greatest drama, pain and ecstasy that the game has had to offer with match-ups like this one.
From Test matches in the early 1900s to World Cup knockouts in the modern day, let’s traverse the entire timeline of the great rivalry, year by year.
1902-1950: Initial Encounters
- 1902–1903 South Africa v Australia: In 1902–03, Australia and South Africa played a three-match Test series in South Africa. After a draw in the first Test, Australia then beat South Africa in the second Test by 159 runs and in the third Test by 10 wickets. The Australians were led by the feats of Victor Trumper, Clement Hill, and Warwick Armstrong. South Africa had plenty of first-class experience but they were inexperienced in terms of Test cricket. They struggled to match the determination of the experienced Australians.
- 1910–1911 Australia v South Africa: In the third Test match of the series, South Africa achieved their first Test victory, when they won by 38 runs after declaring for 482 runs and 360 runs. This match was a watershed for the Proteas, showing that they can stand up to the might of the Australians.
- 1912 Triangular Test Series: The 1912 Triangular Test series was conducted in England between Australia, England and South Africa. South Africa had two Tests against Australia and were soundly beaten in both.
- Australia, with an experienced team under the strong leadership of Warwick Armstrong and the batting of Victor Trumper, were simply too strong, while South Africa’s batting was not able to match it.
- The series represented one of the first-ever instances of a multi-nation cricket tournament.
- 1931–1932 Australia v South Africa: Australia again had a great series against South Africa at home, with Australia sweeping the 5-Test series 5–0. The great Sir Don Bradman was at the peak of his career and batting heavily, while bowlers like Clarence Grimmett were spinning webs around the Proteas.
- 1935–1936 – South Africa v Australia: Australia demonstrated their dominance in this five-match series by winning 4-0 and drawing 1-0.
- Don Bradman, Stan McCabe, and Bill O’ Reilly were the masterminds of the series victories.
- The South African’s showed some resilience, but ultimately could not match Australia’s total all-around strength.
- 1949–1950 South Africa v Australia: Another great series dominated by the Aussies as they already swept the series 4–0 in a 5-Test series. With players like Lindsay Hassett, Neil Harvey and Keith Miller, Australia had too much depth for the Proteas.
1950s–1990s: Competitive Balance & Classic Clashes
- 1952–1953 Australia v South Africa: This series ended in a 2–2 draw after intense competition. South Africa stunned Australia in Melbourne as they returned the following day, with Neil Harvey’s batting proving the difference. This demonstrated that the Proteas were becoming a world-class side.
- 1969–1970 South Africa v Australia: This is regarded as one of the proudest series in South Africa’s history. They whitewashed Australia 4–0 at home.
- Graeme Pollock, Barry Richards and Mike Procter ripped the heart out of Australia’s batting.
- This was South Africa’s last series before being isolated from cricket and the world due to apartheid.
- 1991–1992 Benson & Hedges World Cup: This was South Africa’s first World Cup after their readmission to international cricket. They shocked Australia by chasing 171 runs without any trouble. Leading the charge and establishing the groundwork for South Africa’s competitive elements going forward are Kepler Wessels and Peter Kirsten.
- 1993–1994 Benson & Hedges World Series Final: This series final featured the two countries in a best-of-three match series.
- First Final: South Africa won by 28 runs, thanks to five wickets from Richard Snell and 112* from Gary Kirsten.
- Second Final: With Mark Waugh scoring 107, Australia rallied for a 69-run victory.
- Third Final: With Mark Waugh leading the way once more, Australia won the third final by 35 runs.
- 1994–1995 Wills Triangular Series: This ODI Tri-series had Australia and South Africa playing ODIs in subcontinental conditions. The games were tight, showing South Africa’s adaptability, with Pakistan as the eventual champion.
- 1994–1995 New Zealand Centenary Tournament: Australia and South Africa met again in this ODI tournament to celebrate New Zealand’s 100 years of cricket. Australia and South Africa beat each other again and South Africa showed their excellent fielding and disciplined bowling. It was clear the rivalry was becoming one of cricket’s most anticipated.
- 1996–1997 Australia v South Africa: Australia and South Africa played another thrilling ODI series and kept trading victories. South African Hansie Cronje and Allan Donald made significant contributions and Steve Waugh and Shane Warne gave as good an account as any for Australia. Both teams had become very evenly matched.
- 1997–1998 Carlton & United Series: Australia won the championship with two victories, but South Africa had won the opening match in the finals. In the final match, there was more tension, with Australia holding their nerve to secure victory by 14 runs.
- 1999 ICC World Cup Semi-Final: This was perhaps the most exciting match in the history of ODIs.
- Australia scored 213 with Michael Bevan scoring 65.
- South Africa needed just 1 run off 4 balls with Lance Klusener batting.
- A shock run-out of Allan Donald tied the game, and Australia reached the final based on their Super Six record. Therefore, South African heartbreak was complete.
Read More: India National Cricket Team vs Bangladesh National Cricket Team Timeline / Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders Timeline
2000s–2010: The Evolving Dynamic of Aus–SA Rivalry
- 2001–2002 Australia v South Africa Test Series: Australia completely outclassed the Proteas in three consecutive Test matches, winning the first match by 246 runs, winning the second Test by 9 wickets, and winning the third Test by 10 wickets, solidifying Australia as the more dominant team in the early 2000s.
- 2005–2006 South Africa v Australia ODI Series: South Africa emerged victorious in a closely contested five-match series, winning 3-2. South Africa’s first match was a six-wicket win (D/L method) and then South Africa won the second match decisively with a 196-run margin after bowling Australia out for 93. Australia made a comeback, winning the third match (24 runs) and the fourth match (1 wicket) before the final match was played again at 1-3 and South Africa won the series with a thrilling 1-wicket performance.
- 2005–2006 Australia v South Africa T20I: Both teams played in the first T20 International in history. Australia scored 209 for 3 with Andrew Symonds and Damien Martyn the main contributors in the innings, and South Africa for 114. Nathan Bracken starred with the ball as Australia won by 95 runs.
- 2007 ICC World Cup Semi-Final: South Africa were dismissed for a mere 149, thanks to brilliant bowling from Glenn McGrath and Shaun Tait. Justin Kemp (49) and Herschelle Gibbs (39) tried to fight back but Michael Clarke was unperturbed on 60 not out and Australia got to 149 with seven wickets to spare, and entered the final.
2011–Present
- 2011–2012 South Africa v Australia T20I Series: The series played over two matches was tied 1–1. Australia secured the first win in Cape Town by 5 wickets, thanks to Shane Watson and on debut, Pat Cummins. South Africa bounced back in Johannesburg with a 3-wicket win courtesy of Johan Botha’s innings in the chase.
- 2014–2015 Triangular Series, Zimbabwe: South Africa and Australia faced each other three times, with the Proteas winning two. In the final, Australia were bowled out for 217. South Africa chased down the runs comfortably, thanks to 96 from Faf du Plessis and an unbroken 57 from AB de Villiers for a 6-wicket win and the series trophy.
- 2022–2023 Australia v South Africa Test Series: Australia won the series 2–0 over three tests. David Warner, Alex Carey, Travis Head and Usman Khawaja all scored well, while Pat Cummins was able to lead the bowlers. South Africa showed glimpses of fight through Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Temba Bavuma, and Kagiso Rabada, but were outclassed by Australia.
- 2023 (ICC World Cup): The Proteas won the group stage clash with Quinton de Kock’s fireworks batting and their solid, simple bowling. Australia got revenge in the semi-final as they were able to rely on Travis Head’s destructive batting and the incisive bowling of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc to get to the final.
- 2023 (South Africa v Australia T20I Series): Australia swept the three-match T20I series 3–0, with Mitchell Marsh scoring 92 and 79*, Sean Abbott put his feet up for 3/22 to restrict the Proteas in the 2nd game, and finally Travis Head’s 91 confirmed another comfortable victory and series clean sweep. Australian Mens Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team Timeline
