List of Australia Test cricket records against South Africa

This is a list of Australian Test cricket records against South Africa. It is based on the List of Australia Test cricket records, but concentrates solely on records dealing with the Australian Test cricket team, and any cricketers who have played for that team, against the South Africa Test cricket team. Australia played its first recognised Test cricket match against South Africa in October 1902, and the records listed here date from that time.

Listing criteria

In general the top ten are listed in each category (except when there is a tie for the last place among the ten, when all the tied record holders are noted).

Listing notation

Team Notation

  • (300-3) indicates that a team scored 300 runs for three wickets and the innings was closed, either due to a successful run chase or if no playing time remained.
  • (300-3 d) indicates that a team scored 300 runs for three wickets, and declared its innings closed.
  • (300) indicates that a team scored 300 runs and was all out, either by losing all ten wickets or by having one or more batsmen unable to bat and losing the remaining wickets.

Batting Notation

  • (100) indicates that a batsman scored 100 runs and was out.
  • (100*) indicates that a batsman scored 100 runs and was not out.

Bowling Notation

  • (5-100) indicates that a bowler has captured 5 wickets while giving away 100 runs.

Currently playing

  • Record holders who are currently playing Test cricket (i.e. their record details listed could change) are shown in bold

Team records

Team wins, losses, ties, and draws

Matches played

Team

1st Test

Matches

Won

Lost

Drawn

Tied

% Won

Oct 1902

83

47

18

18

0

56.62

Source: Cricinfo. Last updated: 23 March 2009.

Highest scores (Innings)

Rank

Score

Opposition

Venue

Season

1

652-7d

Johannesburg

2001-02

2

628-8d

Johannesburg

1996-97

3

578

Melbourne

1910-11

4

554

Sydney

2001-02

5

549-7d

Port Elizabeth

1949-50

6

542

Cape Town

1966-67

7

530

Adelaide

1952-53

8

528-8d

Perth

2005-06

9

528

Sydney

1910-11

10

526-7d

Cape Town

1949-50

Source: Cricinfo. Last updated: 21 November 2008.

Lowest scores (Innings)

Rank

Score

Opposition

Venue

Season

1

75

Durban

1949-50

2

108

Port Elizabeth

1996-97

3

111

Sydney

1993-94

4

143

Port Elizabeth

1966-67

5

147

Durban

1966-67

6

153

Melbourne

1931-32

7

157

Durban

1969-70

8

163

Durban

1957-58

9

164

Cape Town

1969-70

10

173

Port Elizabeth

1966-67

Source: Cricinfo. Last updated: 21 November 2008.

Greatest win margins (by innings)

Rank

Margin

Teams

Venue

Season

1

Innings and 360 runs

(652-7d) beat (159 & 133)

Johannesburg

2001-02

2

Innings and 259 runs

(549-7d) beat (158 & 132)

Port Elizabeth

1949-50

3

Innings and 196 runs

(628-8d) beat (302 & 130)

Johannesburg

1996-97

4

Innings and 184 runs

(439) beat (157 & 98)

Johannesburg

1935-36

5

Innings and 163 runs

(450) beat (170 & 117)

Brisbane

1931-32

6

Innings and 155 runs

(469) beat (153 & 161)

Sydney

1931-32

7

Innings and 141 runs

(449) beat (209 & 99)

Cape Town

1957-58

8

Innings and 114 runs

(528) beat (174 & 240)

Sydney

1910-11

9

Innings and 88 runs

(448) beat (265 & 95)

Manchester

1912

10

Innings and 85 runs

(413) beat (137 & 191)

Johannesburg

1949-50

Source: Cricinfo. Last updated: 21 November 2008.

Greatest win margins (by wickets)

Rank

Margin

Teams

Venue

Season

1

10 wickets

(252 & 59-0) beat (85 & 225)

Cape Town

1902-03

10 wickets

(390 & 48-0) beat (263 & 173)

Lord's

1912

10 wickets

(396 & 1-0) beat (180 & 216)

Cape Town

1921-22

10 wickets

(513 & 73-0) beat (308 & 274)

Adelaide

1931-32

10 wickets

(401 & 1-0) beat (203 & 198)

Johannesburg

1957-58

10 wickets

(554 & 54-0) beat (154 & 452)

Sydney

2001-02

7

9 wickets

(429 & 102-1) beat (248 & 282)

Durban

1935-36

9 wickets

(435 & 92-1) beat (361 & 164)

Cape Town

1993-1994

9 wickets

(487 & 10-1) beat (277 & 219)

Melbourne

2001-02

10

8 wickets

(526-7d & 87-2) beat (278 & 333)

Cape Town

1949-50

8 wickets

(291 & 68-2) beat (214 & 144)

Port Elizabeth

1957-58

8 wickets

(447 & 136-2) beat (274 & 306)

Melbourne

1963-64

8 wickets

(359 & 288-2) beat (451-9d & 194-6d)

Sydney

2005-06

Source: Cricinfo. Last updated: 21 November 2008.

Greatest win margins (by runs)

Rank

Margin

Teams

Venue

Season

1

530 runs

(328 & 578) beat (205 & 171)

Melbourne

1910-11

2

246 runs

(439 & 309-7d) beat (374 & 128)

Adelaide

2001-02

3

191 runs

(469-7d & 124-6d) beat (273 & 129)

Adelaide

1993-94

4

184 runs

(355 & 321-7d) beat (311 & 181)

Melbourne

2005-06

5

175 runs

(352 & 331-5d) beat (138 & 370)

Durban

2008-09

6

169 runs

(198 & 554) beat (358 & 225)

Melbourne

1931-32

7

162 runs

(466 & 207) beat (220 & 291)

Johannesburg

2008-09

8

159 runs

(175 & 309) beat (240 & 85)

Johannesburg

1902-1903

9

112 runs

(369 & 307-4d) beat (267 & 297)

Durban

2005-06

10

103 runs

(445 & 257-4d) beat (327 & 272)

Sydney

2008-09

Source: Cricinfo. Last updated: 11 March 2009.

Narrowest win margins (by wickets)

Rank

Margin

Teams

Venue

Season

1

2 wickets

(108 & 271-8) beat (209 & 168)

Port Elizabeth

1996-97

2 wickets

(270 & 294-8) beat (303 & 258)

Johannesburg

2005-06

3

4 wickets

(382 & 334-6) beat (239 & 473)

Cape Town

2001-02

4

5 wickets

(75 & 336-5) beat (311 & 99)

Durban

1949-50

5

6 wickets

(542 & 180-4) beat (353 & 367)

Cape Town

1966-67

6

7 wickets

(308 & 95-3) beat (205 & 197)

Cape Town

2005-06

7

8 wickets

(526-7d & 87-2) beat (278 & 333)

Cape Town

1949-50

8 wickets

(291 & 68-2) beat (214 & 144)

Port Elizabeth

1957-58

8 wickets

(447 & 136-2) beat (274 & 306)

Melbourne

1963-64

8 wickets

(359 & 288-2) beat (451-9d & 194-6d)

Sydney

2005-06

Source: Cricinfo. Last updated: 21 November 2008.

Narrowest win margins (by runs)

Rank

Margin

Teams

Venue

Season

1

89 runs

(348 & 327) beat (506 & 80)

Melbourne

1910-11

2

96 runs

(280 & 277) beat (221 & 240)

Brisbane

1953-53

3

103 runs

(445 & 257-4d) beat (327 & 272)

Sydney

2008-09

4

112 runs

(369 & 307-4d) beat (267 & 297)

Durban

2005-06

5

159 runs

(175 & 309) beat (240 & 85)

Johannesburg

1902-03

6

162 runs

(466 & 207) beat (220 & 291)

Johannesburg

2008-09

7

169 runs

(198 & 554) beat (358 & 225)

Melbourne

1931-32

8

184 runs

(355 & 321-7d) beat (311 & 181)

Melbourne

2005-06

9

191 runs

(469-7d & 124-6d) beat (273 & 129)

Adelaide

1993-94

10

246 runs

(439 & 309-7d) beat (374 & 128)

Adelaide

2001-02

Note: an Australia win against South Africa by a run margin has only occurred on 10 occasions.
Source: Cricinfo.com. Last updated: 3 March 2009.

Greatest loss margins (by innings)

Rank

Margin

Teams

Venue

Season

1

Innings and 129 runs

(622-9d) beat (157 & 336)

Durban

1969-70

2

Innings and 20 runs

(651) beat (209 & 422)

Cape Town

2009-09

Note: a South Africa win against Australia by an innings has only occurred on 2 occasions.
Source: Cricinfo. Last updated: 23 March 2009.

Greatest loss margins (by wickets)

Rank

Margin

Teams

Venue

Season

1

10 wickets

(595 & 82-0) beat (345 & 331)

Adelaide

1963-64

2

9 wickets

(459 & 183-1) beat (394 & 247)

Melbourne

2008-09

3

8 wickets

(300 & 185-2) beat (147 & 334)

Durban

1966-67

8 wickets

(384 & 32-2) beat (227 & 185)

Centurion

1996-97

5

7 wickets

(276 & 179-3) beat (173 & 278)

Port Elizabeth

1966-67

6

6 wickets

(435 & 297-4) beat (520 & 209)

Melbourne

1952-53

6 wickets

(281 & 414-4) beat (375 & 319)

Perth

2008-09

8

5 wickets

(167 & 340-5) beat (315 & 186)

Durban

2001-02

Note: a South Africa win against Australia by a wickets margin has only occurred on 8 occasions.
Source: Cricinfo. Last updated: 30 December 2008.

Greatest loss margins (by runs)

Rank

Margin

Teams

Venue

Season

1

323 runs

(311 & 470-8d) beat (212 & 246)

Port Elizabeth

1969-70

2

307 runs

(279 & 408) beat (202 & 178)

Johannesburg

1969-70

3

233 runs

(199 & 620) beat (325 & 261)

Johannesburg

1966-67

4

197 runs

(251 & 450-9d) beat (248 & 256)

Johannesburg

1993-94

5

170 runs

(382 & 232) beat (164 & 280)

Cape Town

1969-70

6

82 runs

(227 & 290) beat (243 & 388)

Melbourne

1952-53

7

38 runs

(482 & 360) beat (465 & 339)

Adelaide

1910-11

8

5 runs

(169 & 239) beat (292 & 111)

Sydney

1993-94

Note: a South Africa win against Australia by a runs margin has only occurred on 8 occasions.
Source: Cricinfo. Last updated: 21 November 2008.

Narrowest loss margins (by wickets)

Rank

Margin

Teams

Venue

Season

1

5 wickets

(167 & 340-5) beat (315 & 186)

Durban

2001-02

2

6 wickets

(435 & 297-4) beat (520 & 209)

Melbourne

1952-53

6 wickets

(281 & 414-4) beat (375 & 319)

Perth

2008-09

4

7 wickets

(276 & 179-3) beat (173 & 278)

Port Elizabeth

1966-67

5

8 wickets

(300 & 185-2) beat (147 & 334)

Durban

1966-67

8 wickets

(384 & 32-2) beat (227 & 185)

Centurion

1996-97

7

9 wickets

(459 & 183-1) beat (394 & 247)

Melbourne

2008-09

8

10 wickets

(595 & 82-0) beat (345 & 331)

Adelaide

1963-64

Note: a South Africa win against Australia by a wickets margin has only occurred on 8 occasions.
Source: Cricinfo. Last updated: 30 December 2008.

Narrowest loss margins (by runs)

Rank

Margin

Teams

Venue

Season

1

5 runs

(169 & 239) beat (292 & 111)

Sydney

1993-94

2

38 runs

(482 & 360) beat (465 & 339)

Adelaide

1910-11

3

82 runs

(227 & 290) beat (243 & 388)

Melbourne

1952-53

4

170 runs

(382 & 232) beat (164 & 280)

Cape Town

1969-70

5

197 runs

(251 & 450-9d) beat (248 & 256)

Johannesburg

1993-94

6

233 runs

(199 & 620) beat (325 & 261)

Johannesburg

1966-67

7

307 runs

(279 & 408) beat (202 & 178)

Johannesburg

1969-70

8

323 runs

(311 & 470-8d) beat (212 & 246)

Port Elizabeth

1969-70

Note: a South Africa win against Australia by a wickets margin has only occurred on 8 occasions.
Source: Cricinfo. Last updated: 21 November 2008.

Individual records

Individual records (appearances)

Most career matches

Rank

Appearances

Player

Span

1

24

Shane Warne

1993-2006

2

21

Ricky Ponting

1997-

3

19

Matthew Hayden

1994-2009

4

18

Mark Waugh

1993-2002

5

17

Glenn McGrath

1994-2006

6

16

Steve Waugh

1994-2002

7

14

Neil Harvey

1949-58

14

Bill Lawry

1963-70

14

Brett Lee

2001-

10

13

Richie Benaud

1952-64

13

Graham McKenzie

1963-70

Source: Cricinfo. Last updated: 23 March 2009.

Individual records (batting)

Highest individual score

Rank

Runs

Player

Match

Venue

Season

1

299*

Don Bradman

v

Adelaide

1931-32

2

226

Don Bradman

v

Brisbane

1931-32

3

214*

Victor Trumper

v

Adelaide

1910-11

4

214

Greg Blewett

v

Johannesburg

1996-97

5

205

Neil Harvey

v

Melbourne

1952-53

6

204*

Adam Gilchrist

v

Johannesburg

2001-02

7

203*

Brad Hodge

v

Perth

2005-06

8

203

Herbie Collins

v

Johannesburg

1921-22

9

191

Clem Hill

v

Sydney

1910-11

10

190

Neil Harvey

v

Sydney

1952-53

Source: Cricinfo. Last updated: 21 November 2008.

Most career runs

Rank

Runs

Player

Matches

Innings

Not Out

Average

1

2030

Ricky Ponting

21

39

3

56.38

2

1625

Neil Harvey

14

23

3

81.25

3

1486

Matthew Hayden

19

36

2

43.70

4

1147

Steve Waugh

16

25

2

49.86

5

1135

Mark Waugh

18

29

2

42.03

6

985

Bill Lawry

14

28

1

36.48

7

982

Warren Bardsley

11

17

1

61.37

8

980

Bob Simpson

15

27

2

39.20

9

900

Victor Trumper

8

15

3

75.00

10

806

Don Bradman

5

5

1

201.50

Source: Cricinfo. Last updated: 23 March 2009.

Most career 50+ scores

Rank

50+s

Player

Matches

Innings

Average

1

18

Ricky Ponting

21

39

56.38

2

13

Neil Harvey

14

23

81.25

3

11

Matthew Hayden

19

36

43.70

4

9

Warren Bardsley

11

17

61.37

9

Steve Waugh

16

25

49.86

6

8

Mark Waugh

18

29

42.03

7

7

Damien Martyn

11

18

53.07

7

Ian Redpath

10

20

46.52

7

Bob Simpson

15

27

39.20

10

6

Clem Hill

8

13

62.66

6

Lindsay Hassett

10

14

53.42

6

Victor Trumper

8

15

75.00

6

Colin McDonald

10

18

46.23

6

Mike Hussey

12

22

37.68

Source: Cricinfo. Last updated: 23 March 2009.

Most career 100s

Rank

100s

Player

Matches

Innings

Average

1

8

Neil Harvey

14

23

81.25

8

Ricky Ponting

21

39

56.38

3

6

Matthew Hayden

19

36

43.70

4

4

Don Bradman

5

5

201.50

4

Damien Martyn

11

18

53.07

4

Mark Waugh

18

29

42.03

7

3

Jack Fingleton

6

8

74.00

3

Clem Hill

8

13

62.66

3

Lindsay Hassett

10

14

53.42

3

Warren Bardsley

11

17

61.37

Source: Cricinfo. Last updated: 23 March 2009.

Individual records (bowling)

Most career wickets

Rank

Wickets

Player

Matches

Average

1

130

Shane Warne

24

24.16

2

77

Clarrie Grimmett

10

15.57

3

57

Glenn McGrath

17

27.33

4

52

Richie Benaud

13

27.17

5

50

Bill Whitty

8

17.50

50

Brett Lee

14

34.64

7

44

Bill Johnston

10

25.65

8

41

Graham McKenzie

13

40.14

9

34

Bill O'Reilly

7

18.64

10

33

Mitchell Johnson

6

25.45

Source: Cricinfo. Last updated: 23 March 2009.

Best Bowling In An Innings

Rank

Figures

Player

Opposition

Venue

Season

1

8/61

Mitchell Johnson

Perth

2008-09

2

7/34

Jack Saunders

Johannesburg

1902-03

3

7/40

Clarrie Grimmett

Johannesburg

1935-36

4

7/56

Shane Warne

Sydney

1993-94

5

7/83

Clarrie Grimmett

Adelaide

1931-32

6

7/100

Clarrie Grimmett

Durban

1935-36

7

7/116

Clarrie Grimmett

Adelaide

1931-32

8

6/17

Bill Whitty

Melbourne

1910-11

9

6/18

Bert Ironmonger

Melbourne

1931-32

10

6/34

Alan Davidson

Johannesburg

1957-58

6/34

Shane Warne

Sydney

1997-98

Source: Cricinfo. Last updated: 22 December 2008.

Most career 5-wickets-in-an-innings

Rank

5s

Player

Matches

Wickets

BBI

Average

1

8

Clarrie Grimmett

10

77

7/40

15.57

2

7

Shane Warne

24

130

7/56

24.16

3

5

Richie Benaud

13

52

5/49

27.17

4

3

Bert Ironmonger

4

31

6/18

9.14

3

Bill Whitty

8

50

6/17

17.50

3

Bill Johnston

10

44

6/44

25.65

3

Graham McKenzie

13

41

5/46

40.14

8

2

Alan Davidson

5

25

6/34

17.00

2

Ray Lindwall

8

31

5/32

20.35

2

Alan Connolly

7

26

6/47

30.30

2

Bill O'Reilly

7

34

5/20

18.64

2

Brett Lee

14

50

5/69

34.64

2

Glenn McGrath

17

57

6/86

27.33

BBI - Best Bowling in an Innings. Source: Cricinfo. Last updated: 30 December 2008.

Most career 10-wickets-in-a-match

Rank

10s

Player

Matches

Wickets

BBM

Average

1

4

Clarrie Grimmett

10

77

14/199

15.57

2

2

Shane Warne

24

130

12/128

24.16

3

1

Bert Ironmonger

4

31

11/24

9.14

1

Mitchell Johnson

5

29

11/159

23.86

Note: This list includes all Australian players who have taken 10 wickets in a match against South Africa. BBM - Best Bowling in a Match.
Source: Cricinfo. Last updated: 11 March 2009.

Individual records (fielding)

Most dismissals in Test career (wicketkeeper)

Rank

Dismissals

Player

Caught

Stumped

Matches

Innings

1

44

Adam Gilchrist

39

5

12

24

2

38

Brian Taber

35

3

9

16

3

33

Wally Grout

29

4

10

19

33

Ian Healy

31

2

12

22

5

27

Bert Oldfield

13

14

11

22

6

22

Brad Haddin

21

1

6

11

7

21

Ron Saggers

13

8

5

9

8

14

Gil Langley

11

3

5

10

9

13

Sammy Carter

9

4

7

14

10

8

James Kelly

4

4

3

6

Source: Cricinfo. Last updated: 23 March 2009.

Most catches in Test career (non-wicketkeeper)

Rank

Catches

Player

Matches

1

30

Ricky Ponting

21

2

27

Bob Simpson

15

3

22

Matthew Hayden

19

4

19

Mark Waugh

18

19

Shane Warne

24

6

17

Mark Taylor

11

7

15

Richie Benaud

13

8

12

Charles Kellaway

8

9

11

Ian Chappell

9

11

Justin Langer

11

Source: Cricinfo. Last updated: 23 March 2009.

Partnership records

Highest wicket partnerships

Partnership

Runs

Players

Opposition

Venue

Season

1st wicket

233

Bill Brown & Jack Fingleton

Cape Town

1935-36

2nd wicket

275

Colin McDonald & Lindsay Hassett

Adelaide

1952-53

3rd wicket

242

Charles Kellaway & Warren Bardsley

Lord's

1912

4th wicket

169

Mark Taylor & Mark Waugh

Melbourne

1993-94

5th wicket

385

Steve Waugh & Greg Blewett

Johannesburg

1996-1997

6th wicket

317

Damien Martyn & Adam Gilchrist

Johannesburg

2001-02

7th wicket

160

Richie Benaud & Graham McKenzie

Sydney

1963-64

8th wicket

117

Marcus North & Mitchell Johnson

Johannesburg

2008-09

9th wicket

78

Don Bradman & Bill O'Reilly

Adelaide

1931-32

78

Ken Mackay & Ian Meckiff

Johannesburg

1957-58

10th wicket

107

Mike Hussey & Glenn McGrath

Melbourne

2005-06

Source: Cricinfo 1; Cricinfo 2. Last updated: 3 March 2009.

Highest partnerships by runs

Rank

Partnership

Runs

Players

Opposition

Venue

Season

1

5th wicket

385

Steve Waugh & Greg Blewett

Johannesburg

1996-1997

2

6th wicket

317

Damien Martyn & Adam Gilchrist

Johannesburg

2001-02

3

2nd wicket

275

Colin McDonald & Lindsay Hassett

Adelaide

1952-53

4

2nd wicket

274

Bill Woodfull & Don Bradman

Melbourne

1931-32

5

3rd wicket

242

Charles Kellaway & Warren Bardsley

Lord's

1912

6

1st wicket

233

Bill Brown & Jack Fingleton

Cape Town

1935-36

7

6th wicket

224

Warren Bardsley & Clem Hill

Sydney

1910-11

8

1st wicket

219

Bill Lawry & Ian Redpath

Melbourne

1963-1964

1st wicket

219

Justin Langer & Matthew Hayden

Sydney

2001-02

10

1st wicket

214

Arthur Morris & Jack Moroney

Johannesburg

1949-50

Source: Cricinfo. Last updated: 24 November 2008.

See also

  • Portal:Cricket
  • Cricket statistics
  • List of Test cricket records
  • List of Australia Test cricket records