England vs South Africa Head to Head Record and Stats
Covers 109 matches between England and South Africa from Jun 2003 to Sep 2025 (Tests, ODIs and T20Is with ball-by-ball records).
How close is the England vs South Africa head to head? Very: England have 50 wins and South Africa 46 from 109 matches between Jun 2003 and Sep 2025.
No format has a big gap. England edge the Tests by three wins and the ODIs by two, while South Africa hold a 14 to 13 lead in T20Is. Below are the full results tables, the leading players in each format and the grounds used most. England’s other contests are on the England records page, and South Africa’s appear on their own team page.
England vs South Africa Stats: Three Tight Formats
In the 31 Tests covered here, England won 14, South Africa 11 and 6 were drawn. England took the last 2 Tests, the second of them by 9 wickets in London in Sep 2022. Counting from 26 Dec 2019, they won five of the seven Tests played.
England’s ODI edge is 23 wins against 21 in 50 meetings, plus a tie and 5 games without a result. South Africa had the better of the matches from Jan 2023 to Sep 2025, but England ended that run in style: a 342-run thrashing in Southampton on 7 Sep 2025, after they had made 414/5, the highest ODI total in this match-up.
South Africa’s only lead is in T20Is, 14 against 13 from 28 games. England won the most recent of those by 146 runs in Manchester on 12 Sep 2025, where they made 304/2 and PD Salt (England) hit 141 not out from 60 balls.
England vs South Africa Head to Head Record in All Formats
Format
Matches
England won
South Africa won
Tied
Drawn
NR
First match
Latest match
Tests
31
14
11
0
6
0
24 Jul 2003
8 Sep 2022
ODIs
50
23
21
1
–
5
28 Jun 2003
7 Sep 2025
T20Is
28
13
14
0
–
1
16 Sep 2007
12 Sep 2025
All formats
109
50
46
1
6
6
28 Jun 2003
12 Sep 2025
England vs South Africa in Tests
Tests in this record book: 31, from Jul 2003 to Sep 2022.
Most Runs in England vs South Africa Tests
Batter
M
Inns
Runs
HS
Avg
SR
100s
50s
HM Amla South Africa
20
36
1,902
311*
55.94
51.12
6
7
GC Smith South Africa
16
30
1,599
277
57.11
56.54
6
5
AN Cook England
19
36
1,263
118
35.08
43.96
2
9
JE Root England
15
27
1,210
190
46.54
62.92
2
9
BA Stokes England
15
26
1,177
258
45.27
74.07
4
4
JH Kallis South Africa
15
27
1,132
182*
43.54
48.90
4
4
AB de Villiers South Africa
15
26
1,062
174
40.85
51.18
1
5
D Elgar South Africa
15
28
926
136
34.30
48.97
2
3
JM Bairstow England
12
22
915
150*
45.75
67.28
1
6
KP Pietersen England
10
18
817
152
45.39
67.63
3
2
Most Wickets in England vs South Africa Tests
Bowler
M
Inns
Wkts
Best
Avg
Econ
5w
JM Anderson England
27
49
99
5/40
28.88
2.85
4
SCJ Broad England
25
46
89
6/17
27.83
2.94
2
M Morkel South Africa
19
36
79
5/75
28.32
3.08
1
K Rabada South Africa
12
22
66
7/112
25.29
3.92
4
DW Steyn South Africa
9
16
42
5/51
27.74
3.23
2
BA Stokes England
15
25
39
4/86
26.36
3.15
0
MM Ali England
8
14
35
6/53
25.03
3.11
2
M Ntini South Africa
11
20
35
5/94
41.34
3.60
1
KA Maharaj South Africa
9
15
31
5/180
35.23
3.16
1
VD Philander South Africa
10
19
30
5/30
24.37
2.42
1
Highest individual scores
Batter
Score
Balls
4s
6s
Date
HM Amla South Africa
311*
529
35
0
19 Jul 2012
GC Smith South Africa
277
373
35
0
24 Jul 2003
BA Stokes England
258
198
30
11
2 Jan 2016
ME Trescothick England
219
374
32
2
4 Sep 2003
HM Amla South Africa
201
477
27
0
2 Jan 2016
Best bowling in an innings
Bowler
Figures
Overs
Date
K Rabada South Africa
7/112
29
22 Jan 2016
SCJ Broad England
6/17
12.1
14 Jan 2016
K Rabada South Africa
6/32
10.4
22 Jan 2016
RJ Kirtley England
6/34
16.2
14 Aug 2003
SM Pollock South Africa
6/39
17.4
14 Aug 2003
Highest team totals
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
South Africa
637/2
189
England
The Oval, London
19 Jul 2012
England
629/6
125.5
South Africa
Newlands, Cape Town
2 Jan 2016
South Africa
627/7
211
England
Newlands, Cape Town
2 Jan 2016
England
604/9
162
South Africa
The Oval, London
4 Sep 2003
South Africa
594/5
145
England
Edgbaston, Birmingham
24 Jul 2003
Lowest all-out totals
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
South Africa
83
33.1
England
The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
14 Jan 2016
England
101
34.4
South Africa
SuperSport Park, Centurion
22 Jan 2016
England
118
46.4
South Africa
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
14 Aug 2003
South Africa
118
36.2
England
The Oval, London
8 Sep 2022
South Africa
119
36.4
England
Lord’s Cricket Ground, London
6 Jul 2017
Biggest wins
Result
Format
Venue
Date
England won by an innings and 98 runs
Test
Kingsmead, Durban
26 Dec 2009
England won by an innings and 85 runs
Test
Old Trafford, Manchester
25 Aug 2022
South Africa won by an innings and 74 runs
Test
The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
14 Jan 2010
South Africa won by 340 runs
Test
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
14 Jul 2017
South Africa won by 280 runs
Test
SuperSport Park, Centurion
22 Jan 2016
England won by 241 runs
Test
Kingsmead, Durban
26 Dec 2015
South Africa won by 10 wickets
Test
Headingley, Leeds
18 Jul 2008
England won by 9 wickets
Test
The Oval, London
4 Sep 2003
England won by 9 wickets
Test
The Oval, London
8 Sep 2022
Latest results
Date
Venue
Result
8 Sep 2022
The Oval, London
England won by 9 wickets
25 Aug 2022
Old Trafford, Manchester
England won by an innings and 85 runs
17 Aug 2022
Lord’s Cricket Ground, London
South Africa won by an innings and 12 runs
24 Jan 2020
The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
England won by 191 runs
16 Jan 2020
St George’s Park, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
England won by an innings and 53 runs
3 Jan 2020
Newlands, Cape Town
England won by 189 runs
26 Dec 2019
SuperSport Park, Centurion
South Africa won by 107 runs
4 Aug 2017
Old Trafford, Manchester
England won by 177 runs
27 Jul 2017
The Oval, London
England won by 239 runs
14 Jul 2017
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
South Africa won by 340 runs
England vs South Africa in ODIs
ODIs in this record book: 50, from Jun 2003 to Sep 2025.
Most Runs in South Africa vs England ODIs
Batter
M
Inns
Runs
HS
Avg
SR
100s
50s
HM Amla South Africa
21
21
976
150
51.37
87.46
2
6
Q de Kock South Africa
18
18
906
138*
56.62
98.16
3
4
JE Root England
19
19
895
125
47.11
89.59
3
4
AB de Villiers South Africa
27
27
862
121
37.48
86.81
2
3
GC Smith South Africa
22
22
804
141
40.20
81.13
3
3
JC Buttler England
19
19
714
131
47.60
111.74
2
4
KP Pietersen England
14
14
646
116
64.60
100.94
3
2
EJG Morgan England
20
20
574
107
35.88
93.18
1
3
HE van der Dussen South Africa
11
11
539
134
59.89
92.29
2
3
HH Gibbs South Africa
16
16
529
118
33.06
81.76
2
3
Most wickets in ODIs
Bowler
M
Inns
Wkts
Best
Avg
Econ
5w
AU Rashid England
21
21
32
3/13
29.47
5.72
0
JM Anderson England
19
19
28
5/23
22.96
4.68
1
SCJ Broad England
12
12
25
5/23
18.68
4.95
1
K Rabada South Africa
11
11
22
4/39
23.77
5.29
0
JC Archer England
7
7
20
6/40
14.55
4.92
1
KA Maharaj South Africa
10
10
18
4/22
23.50
5.59
0
M Ntini South Africa
13
13
18
3/29
29.28
5.13
0
A Flintoff England
8
8
17
3/21
15.41
4.20
0
WD Parnell South Africa
12
12
17
5/48
29.82
5.03
1
L Ngidi South Africa
11
11
17
4/62
31.65
6.26
0
Highest individual scores
Batter
Score
Balls
4s
6s
Date
HM Amla South Africa
150
124
16
0
28 Aug 2012
GC Smith South Africa
141
134
16
0
27 Sep 2009
Q de Kock South Africa
138*
96
12
6
3 Feb 2016
Q de Kock South Africa
135
117
16
4
9 Feb 2016
HE van der Dussen South Africa
134
117
10
0
19 Jul 2022
Best bowling in an innings
Bowler
Figures
Overs
Date
JC Archer England
6/40
9.1
1 Feb 2023
AJ Hall South Africa
5/18
10
17 Apr 2007
SCJ Broad England
5/23
10
26 Aug 2008
JM Anderson England
5/23
10
29 Nov 2009
SR Patel England
5/41
9.4
29 Aug 2008
Highest team totals
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
England
414/5
50
South Africa
The Rose Bowl, Southampton
7 Sep 2025
England
399/9
50
South Africa
Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein
3 Feb 2016
South Africa
399/7
50
England
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
21 Oct 2023
South Africa
354/6
50
England
Newlands, Cape Town
27 Nov 2009
South Africa
347/5
49.1
England
Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein
29 Jan 2023
Lowest all-out totals
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
South Africa
83
23
England
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
26 Aug 2008
South Africa
83
20.4
England
Old Trafford, Manchester
22 Jul 2022
South Africa
107
32.1
England
Lord’s Cricket Ground, London
12 Jul 2003
South Africa
119
36.5
England
St George’s Park, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
29 Nov 2009
England
131
24.3
South Africa
Headingley, Leeds
2 Sep 2025
Biggest wins
Result
Format
Venue
Date
England won by 342 runs
ODI
The Rose Bowl, Southampton
7 Sep 2025
South Africa won by 229 runs
ODI
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
21 Oct 2023
England won by 126 runs
ODI
The Oval, London
29 Aug 2008
England won by 10 wickets
ODI
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
26 Aug 2008
South Africa won by 9 wickets
ODI
Kensington Oval, Bridgetown
17 Apr 2007
South Africa won by 7 wickets
ODI
Old Trafford, Manchester
3 Jul 2003
England vs South Africa ODI Results Timeline
Date
Venue
Result
7 Sep 2025
The Rose Bowl, Southampton
England won by 342 runs
4 Sep 2025
Lord’s Cricket Ground, London
South Africa won by 5 runs
2 Sep 2025
Headingley, Leeds
South Africa won by 7 wickets
1 Mar 2025
National Stadium Karachi, Karachi
South Africa won by 7 wickets
21 Oct 2023
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
South Africa won by 229 runs
1 Feb 2023
Diamond Oval, Kimberley
England won by 59 runs
29 Jan 2023
Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein
South Africa won by 5 wickets
27 Jan 2023
Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein
South Africa won by 27 runs
24 Jul 2022
Headingley, Leeds
No result
22 Jul 2022
Old Trafford, Manchester
England won by 118 runs
England vs South Africa in T20Is
T20Is in this record book: 28, from Sep 2007 to Sep 2025.
Most Runs in England vs South Africa T20Is
Batter
M
Inns
Runs
HS
Avg
SR
100s
50s
JC Buttler England
21
21
606
83
33.67
167.40
0
4
JM Bairstow England
14
14
501
90
41.75
146.06
0
4
Q de Kock South Africa
13
13
405
65
31.15
159.45
0
3
EJG Morgan England
16
16
402
85*
30.92
147.25
0
3
AB de Villiers South Africa
15
15
390
71
32.50
160.49
0
3
JJ Roy England
16
16
382
70
25.47
134.51
0
2
DJ Malan England
9
9
350
99*
43.75
154.19
0
3
HE van der Dussen South Africa
7
7
315
94*
105.00
150.00
0
2
HM Amla South Africa
6
6
288
69*
72.00
156.52
0
3
RR Hendricks South Africa
10
10
240
70
24.00
123.08
0
3
Most wickets in T20Is
Bowler
M
Inns
Wkts
Best
Avg
Econ
5w
L Ngidi South Africa
9
9
19
5/39
15.68
9.61
1
CJ Jordan England
17
17
17
3/23
37.06
9.90
0
T Shamsi South Africa
12
12
16
5/24
23.06
8.58
1
AL Phehlukwayo South Africa
9
9
14
3/39
23.36
10.33
0
AU Rashid England
18
18
14
2/17
37.07
8.24
0
K Rabada South Africa
11
11
13
3/48
30.00
9.87
0
TK Curran England
8
8
12
3/33
24.17
10.00
0
MM Ali England
12
12
10
2/22
26.70
8.34
0
Imran Tahir South Africa
6
6
9
4/21
19.56
7.65
0
KJ Abbott South Africa
3
3
8
3/26
12.25
8.40
0
Highest individual scores
Batter
Score
Balls
4s
6s
Date
PD Salt England
141*
60
15
8
12 Sep 2025
DJ Malan England
99*
47
11
5
1 Dec 2020
RR Rossouw South Africa
96*
55
10
5
28 Jul 2022
LE Bosman South Africa
94
45
5
9
15 Nov 2009
HE van der Dussen South Africa
94*
60
5
6
6 Nov 2021
Best bowling in an innings
Bowler
Figures
Overs
Date
T Shamsi South Africa
5/24
4
31 Jul 2022
L Ngidi South Africa
5/39
4
27 Jul 2022
Imran Tahir South Africa
4/21
4
19 Feb 2016
D Paterson South Africa
4/32
4
25 Jun 2017
WD Parnell South Africa
3/14
3.5
11 Jun 2009
Highest team totals
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
England
304/2
20
South Africa
Old Trafford, Manchester
12 Sep 2025
South Africa
241/6
20
England
SuperSport Park, Centurion
15 Nov 2009
England
234/6
20
South Africa
County Ground, Bristol
27 Jul 2022
England
230/8
19.4
South Africa
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
18 Mar 2016
South Africa
229/4
20
England
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
18 Mar 2016
Lowest all-out totals
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
England
101
16.4
South Africa
The Rose Bowl, Southampton
31 Jul 2022
England
111
19.5
South Africa
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
11 Jun 2009
South Africa
129
19
England
Kensington Oval, Bridgetown
8 May 2010
England
149
16.4
South Africa
Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
28 Jul 2022
South Africa
158
16.1
England
Old Trafford, Manchester
12 Sep 2025
Biggest wins
Result
Format
Venue
Date
England won by 146 runs
T20I
Old Trafford, Manchester
12 Sep 2025
South Africa won by 90 runs
T20I
The Rose Bowl, Southampton
31 Jul 2022
South Africa won by 84 runs
T20I
SuperSport Park, Centurion
15 Nov 2009
South Africa won by 9 wickets
T20I
The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
21 Feb 2016
England won by 9 wickets
T20I
The Rose Bowl, Southampton
21 Jun 2017
England won by 9 wickets
T20I
Newlands, Cape Town
1 Dec 2020
Latest results
Date
Venue
Result
12 Sep 2025
Old Trafford, Manchester
England won by 146 runs
10 Sep 2025
Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
South Africa won by 14 runs (DLS)
21 Jun 2024
Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Gros Islet
South Africa won by 7 runs
31 Jul 2022
The Rose Bowl, Southampton
South Africa won by 90 runs
28 Jul 2022
Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
South Africa won by 58 runs
27 Jul 2022
County Ground, Bristol
England won by 41 runs
6 Nov 2021
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
South Africa won by 10 runs
1 Dec 2020
Newlands, Cape Town
England won by 9 wickets
29 Nov 2020
Boland Park, Paarl
England won by 4 wickets
27 Nov 2020
Newlands, Cape Town
England won by 5 wickets
Most player of the match awards in England vs South Africa matches
Player
Awards
KP Pietersen England
6
MM Ali England
6
BA Stokes England
6
Q de Kock South Africa
5
GC Smith South Africa
4
AB de Villiers South Africa
4
JH Kallis South Africa
3
EJG Morgan England
3
Grounds Where England and South Africa Have Met Most
England vs South Africa Players Who Lead the Lists
Hashim Amla (HM Amla, South Africa) heads two batting tables. He made 1,902 Test runs at 55.94, and his unbeaten 311 at The Oval in Jul 2012 tops the scoring list; South Africa declared on 637/2 that day. Graeme Smith (GC Smith, South Africa) averaged 57.11 for his 1,599 runs. In ODIs, too, Amla is first, with 976 at 51.37.
For England, James Anderson (JM Anderson) took 99 Test wickets and Stuart Broad (SCJ Broad) 89. K Rabada (South Africa) has 66 from just 12 Tests, including 7/112 and 6/32 in the same match at Centurion on 22 Jan 2016.
Top of the T20I batting is Jos Buttler (JC Buttler, England) on 606. L Ngidi (South Africa) leads the T20I bowlers with 19 wickets, and nobody near the top of that table averages less than his 15.68. Three England players, KP Pietersen, MM Ali and BA Stokes, have 6 match awards apiece, more than anyone else.
Toss, Chasing and Favourite Grounds
Chasing has been the better ODI route here, giving 25 wins to 19; teams batting first made 255 on average. In T20Is the side batting first holds the better record, 17 victories against 10, after first innings averaging 183.
Winning the toss helped in Tests, where 15 of 25 decided games went to whoever called correctly. In T20Is it has done the opposite: just 8 of 27.
Newlands in Cape Town has staged 12 of these games, and South Africa won 7 of them. The Oval is the strongest England venue, with 9 wins from 10 matches. For comparison, see how England fare against Australia and how South Africa do against India.
Questions about England vs South Africa
Which team leads the England vs South Africa rivalry?
England, but only just: 50 victories against 46 over 109 meetings from Jun 2003. England lead in Tests and ODIs, South Africa in T20Is.
Who is the leading run scorer in England vs South Africa matches?
Hashim Amla (South Africa) is first in Tests on 1,902 and in ODIs on 976. The T20I leader is Jos Buttler (England) with 606.
What is the top Test score between England and South Africa?
Amla’s 311 not out, a 529-ball innings at The Oval in the Test from 19 Jul 2012. GC Smith’s 277 in Jul 2003 and BA Stokes’s 258 off 198 balls in Jan 2016 are next.
What was the result of the last England vs South Africa match?
England won a T20I at Old Trafford by 146 runs on 12 Sep 2025. Five days earlier England had also taken the most recent ODI, by a 342-run margin in Southampton.
Who has taken the most wickets in England vs South Africa Tests?
England’s James Anderson leads on 99, at an average of 28.88. Stuart Broad has 89 and M Morkel of South Africa 79.