Covers 115 matches between South Africa and Australia from Dec 2005 to Aug 2025 (Tests, ODIs and T20Is with ball-by-ball records).
Australia edge the South Africa vs Australia head to head by just three wins, 57 to 54, over 115 matches from Dec 2005 to Aug 2025.
Each format tells its own tale. Australia lead the Tests 15-12 and dominate the T20Is 19-9. South Africa own the ODIs, 33 wins to 23, and in that format they also scored the famous 438/9 at Johannesburg on 12 Mar 2006, overhauling Australia’s 434/4. Below are the timeline, the leading players and the matches that ended most heavily.
Reading the South Africa vs Australia Matches by Format
Tests between these two rarely end level: only 3 of 30 were drawn. Australia have 15 wins, South Africa 12, and the latest result went South Africa’s way, by 5 wickets at Lord’s on 11 Jun 2025 in the World Test Championship final. Australia’s win by an innings and 182 runs at Melbourne in Dec 2022 heads the biggest-wins list, and South Africa have 2 innings wins of their own. By runs alone, South Africa own the three heaviest Test wins, led by 492 runs at the Wanderers on 30 Mar 2018 and 322 runs at Newlands in the Test before it.
ODIs belong to South Africa, with 33 wins in 57. They put together four straight wins between 12 Sep and 12 Oct 2023. Australia hit back with the largest ODI margin in the fixture, 276 runs at Mackay on 24 Aug 2025, after making 431/2.
T20Is are a different matter. Australia have won 19 of 28, and their six biggest T20I wins include margins of 111, 107 and 97 runs.
South Africa vs Australia Head to Head Record in All Formats
Format
Matches
South Africa won
Australia won
Tied
Drawn
NR
First match
Latest match
Tests
30
12
15
0
3
0
26 Dec 2005
11 Jun 2025
ODIs
57
33
23
0
–
1
15 Jan 2006
24 Aug 2025
T20Is
28
9
19
0
–
0
9 Jan 2006
16 Aug 2025
All formats
115
54
57
0
3
1
26 Dec 2005
24 Aug 2025
South Africa vs Australia in Tests
Tests in this record book: 30, from Dec 2005 to Jun 2025.
Most Runs in South Africa vs Australia Tests
Batter
M
Inns
Runs
HS
Avg
SR
100s
50s
AB de Villiers South Africa
23
43
1,988
169
52.32
49.91
6
12
HM Amla South Africa
21
40
1,574
196
41.42
51.45
5
5
MJ Clarke Australia
14
27
1,487
259*
67.59
59.60
5
3
DA Warner Australia
15
27
1,415
200
52.41
80.08
5
5
RT Ponting Australia
16
31
1,336
143*
44.53
62.05
6
6
JH Kallis South Africa
16
30
1,293
147
46.18
49.26
4
6
GC Smith South Africa
17
33
1,048
122
34.93
59.51
3
4
MEK Hussey Australia
16
29
1,027
122
38.04
47.70
3
5
SPD Smith Australia
13
23
933
104
44.43
53.13
2
5
F du Plessis South Africa
12
23
888
120
46.74
48.84
3
4
Most Wickets in South Africa vs Australia Tests
Bowler
M
Inns
Wkts
Best
Avg
Econ
5w
DW Steyn South Africa
15
28
70
5/67
27.47
3.56
2
MG Johnson Australia
12
23
64
8/61
25.64
3.10
3
K Rabada South Africa
11
20
58
6/54
21.40
3.45
4
M Morkel South Africa
16
31
58
5/23
33.67
3.54
2
NM Lyon Australia
19
36
56
5/130
40.80
2.93
1
VD Philander South Africa
14
27
53
6/21
24.68
2.84
4
PJ Cummins Australia
9
18
48
6/28
18.31
2.74
4
MA Starc Australia
10
19
47
6/154
28.06
3.69
2
PM Siddle Australia
13
25
46
5/59
33.57
2.74
1
M Ntini South Africa
10
20
41
6/100
31.76
3.46
1
Highest individual scores
Batter
Score
Balls
4s
6s
Date
MJ Clarke Australia
259*
398
27
0
9 Nov 2012
MJ Clarke Australia
230
257
40
1
22 Nov 2012
DA Warner Australia
200
255
19
2
26 Dec 2022
HM Amla South Africa
196
221
21
0
30 Nov 2012
UT Khawaja Australia
195*
368
19
1
4 Jan 2023
Best bowling in an innings
Bowler
Figures
Overs
Date
MG Johnson Australia
8/61
24
17 Dec 2008
MG Johnson Australia
7/68
17.1
12 Feb 2014
VD Philander South Africa
6/21
13
30 Mar 2018
PJ Cummins Australia
6/28
18.1
11 Jun 2025
K Rabada South Africa
6/54
22
9 Mar 2018
Highest team totals
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
South Africa
651
154.3
Australia
Newlands, Cape Town
19 Mar 2009
Australia
575/8
145
South Africa
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
26 Dec 2022
South Africa
569
111.5
Australia
WACA Ground, Perth
30 Nov 2012
Australia
565/5
138
South Africa
The Gabba, Brisbane
9 Nov 2012
Australia
550
107.2
South Africa
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
22 Nov 2012
Lowest all-out totals
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
Australia
47
18
South Africa
Newlands, Cape Town
9 Nov 2011
Australia
85
32.5
South Africa
Bellerive Oval, Hobart
12 Nov 2016
South Africa
96
24.3
Australia
Newlands, Cape Town
9 Nov 2011
South Africa
99
37.4
Australia
The Gabba, Brisbane
17 Dec 2022
Australia
107
39.4
South Africa
Newlands, Cape Town
22 Mar 2018
Biggest wins
Result
Format
Venue
Date
Australia won by an innings and 182 runs
Test
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
26 Dec 2022
South Africa won by an innings and 80 runs
Test
Bellerive Oval, Hobart
12 Nov 2016
South Africa won by an innings and 20 runs
Test
Newlands, Cape Town
19 Mar 2009
South Africa won by 492 runs
Test
The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
30 Mar 2018
South Africa won by 322 runs
Test
Newlands, Cape Town
22 Mar 2018
South Africa won by 309 runs
Test
WACA Ground, Perth
30 Nov 2012
South Africa won by 9 wickets
Test
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
26 Dec 2008
Australia won by 8 wickets
Test
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
2 Jan 2006
South Africa won by 8 wickets
Test
Newlands, Cape Town
9 Nov 2011
Latest results
Date
Venue
Result
11 Jun 2025
Lord’s Cricket Ground, London
South Africa won by 5 wickets
4 Jan 2023
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Drawn
26 Dec 2022
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Australia won by an innings and 182 runs
17 Dec 2022
The Gabba, Brisbane
Australia won by 6 wickets
30 Mar 2018
The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
South Africa won by 492 runs
22 Mar 2018
Newlands, Cape Town
South Africa won by 322 runs
9 Mar 2018
St George’s Park, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
South Africa won by 6 wickets
1 Mar 2018
Kingsmead, Durban
Australia won by 118 runs
24 Nov 2016
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Australia won by 7 wickets
12 Nov 2016
Bellerive Oval, Hobart
South Africa won by an innings and 80 runs
South Africa vs Australia in ODIs
ODIs in this record book: 57, from Jan 2006 to Aug 2025.
Most Runs in South Africa vs Australia ODIs
Batter
M
Inns
Runs
HS
Avg
SR
100s
50s
DA Warner Australia
30
30
1,255
173
41.83
102.95
5
5
AB de Villiers South Africa
25
25
1,250
136*
59.52
99.05
1
10
F du Plessis South Africa
21
21
1,080
126
54.00
93.51
5
3
DA Miller South Africa
26
26
1,033
139
57.39
104.45
3
6
Q de Kock South Africa
30
30
1,021
178
35.21
96.87
3
3
RT Ponting Australia
22
22
969
164
44.05
91.85
1
8
HH Gibbs South Africa
21
21
851
175
40.52
91.11
2
3
MEK Hussey Australia
23
23
807
83*
44.83
87.81
0
6
MR Marsh Australia
27
27
800
100
32.00
91.12
1
5
AJ Finch Australia
22
22
776
109
35.27
76.76
2
5
Most wickets in ODIs
Bowler
M
Inns
Wkts
Best
Avg
Econ
5w
DW Steyn South Africa
27
27
49
4/27
26.90
5.39
0
K Rabada South Africa
15
15
30
4/54
25.50
5.96
0
JR Hazlewood Australia
18
18
29
5/31
29.34
5.04
1
M Morkel South Africa
15
15
27
5/21
28.63
5.54
1
L Ngidi South Africa
11
11
26
6/58
16.96
5.03
2
MG Johnson Australia
17
17
26
4/34
30.58
5.31
0
MA Starc Australia
16
16
24
4/32
30.50
5.44
0
A Zampa Australia
21
21
24
4/48
45.67
6.17
0
M Ntini South Africa
11
11
21
6/22
27.14
5.79
1
PJ Cummins Australia
13
13
20
3/28
33.45
5.78
0
Highest individual scores
Batter
Score
Balls
4s
6s
Date
Q de Kock South Africa
178
113
16
11
30 Sep 2016
HH Gibbs South Africa
175
111
21
7
12 Mar 2006
H Klaasen South Africa
174
83
13
13
15 Sep 2023
DA Warner Australia
173
136
24
0
12 Oct 2016
RT Ponting Australia
164
105
13
9
12 Mar 2006
Best bowling in an innings
Bowler
Figures
Overs
Date
M Ntini South Africa
6/22
9.3
3 Mar 2006
L Ngidi South Africa
6/58
10
4 Mar 2020
M Morkel South Africa
5/21
8
16 Nov 2014
B Lee Australia
5/22
10
20 Jan 2006
C Connolly Australia
5/22
6
24 Aug 2025
Highest Totals in South Africa vs Australia ODIs
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
South Africa
438/9
49.5
Australia
The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
12 Mar 2006
Australia
434/4
50
South Africa
The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
12 Mar 2006
Australia
431/2
50
South Africa
Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay
24 Aug 2025
South Africa
416/5
50
Australia
SuperSport Park, Centurion
15 Sep 2023
Australia
392/8
50
South Africa
Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein
9 Sep 2023
Lowest all-out totals
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
Australia
93
34.3
South Africa
Newlands, Cape Town
3 Mar 2006
South Africa
129
22
Australia
SuperSport Park, Centurion
19 Oct 2011
Australia
131
40.2
South Africa
SuperSport Park, Centurion
5 Apr 2009
Australia
142
34.2
South Africa
Providence Stadium, Guyana
7 Jun 2016
South Africa
145
33.1
Australia
Kingsmead, Durban
3 Apr 2009
Biggest wins
Result
Format
Venue
Date
Australia won by 276 runs
ODI
Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay
24 Aug 2025
South Africa won by 196 runs
ODI
Newlands, Cape Town
3 Mar 2006
South Africa won by 164 runs
ODI
SuperSport Park, Centurion
15 Sep 2023
South Africa won by 8 wickets
ODI
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
26 Jan 2009
Australia won by 7 wickets
ODI
Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Gros Islet
25 Apr 2007
South Africa won by 7 wickets
ODI
SuperSport Park, Centurion
5 Apr 2009
Latest results
Date
Venue
Result
24 Aug 2025
Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay
Australia won by 276 runs
22 Aug 2025
Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay
South Africa won by 84 runs
19 Aug 2025
Cazaly’s Stadium, Cairns
South Africa won by 98 runs
16 Nov 2023
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Australia won by 3 wickets
12 Oct 2023
Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
South Africa won by 134 runs
17 Sep 2023
The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
South Africa won by 122 runs
15 Sep 2023
SuperSport Park, Centurion
South Africa won by 164 runs
12 Sep 2023
Sedgars Park, Potchefstroom
South Africa won by 111 runs
9 Sep 2023
Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein
Australia won by 123 runs
7 Sep 2023
Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein
Australia won by 3 wickets
South Africa vs Australia in T20Is
T20Is in this record book: 28, from Jan 2006 to Aug 2025.
Most Runs in South Africa vs Australia T20Is
Batter
M
Inns
Runs
HS
Avg
SR
100s
50s
DA Warner Australia
15
15
471
89
33.64
146.27
0
4
MR Marsh Australia
14
14
407
92*
40.70
156.54
0
3
JP Duminy South Africa
14
14
378
78
34.36
115.95
0
3
Q de Kock South Africa
13
13
358
70
29.83
138.76
0
1
SR Watson Australia
10
10
296
70
29.60
126.50
0
2
AJ Finch Australia
12
12
295
55
26.82
142.51
0
1
GJ Maxwell Australia
12
12
287
75
28.70
150.26
0
2
DA Miller South Africa
14
14
257
53*
25.70
116.82
0
1
CL White Australia
11
11
254
41*
36.29
132.98
0
0
F du Plessis South Africa
9
9
226
79
28.25
149.67
0
1
Most wickets in T20Is
Bowler
M
Inns
Wkts
Best
Avg
Econ
5w
K Rabada South Africa
13
13
14
2/25
27.57
8.39
0
PJ Cummins Australia
10
10
13
3/25
17.54
6.16
0
A Zampa Australia
10
10
12
2/9
22.58
7.23
0
JP Faulkner Australia
5
5
10
3/25
14.00
7.37
0
RJ Peterson South Africa
6
6
10
3/28
17.30
8.65
0
AC Agar Australia
4
4
9
5/24
10.33
6.64
1
KT Maphaka South Africa
3
3
9
4/20
12.56
10.27
0
L Ngidi South Africa
10
10
9
3/41
35.78
10.28
0
NM Coulter-Nile Australia
5
5
8
3/29
16.75
8.38
0
SA Abbott Australia
6
6
8
4/31
18.00
8.47
0
Highest individual scores
Batter
Score
Balls
4s
6s
Date
D Brevis South Africa
125*
56
12
8
12 Aug 2025
HM Amla South Africa
97*
62
8
4
9 Mar 2016
DR Martyn Australia
96
56
7
5
9 Jan 2006
MR Marsh Australia
92*
49
13
2
30 Aug 2023
TM Head Australia
91
48
8
6
3 Sep 2023
Best bowling in an innings
Bowler
Figures
Overs
Date
AC Agar Australia
5/24
4
21 Feb 2020
KT Maphaka South Africa
4/20
4
10 Aug 2025
T Sangha Australia
4/31
4
30 Aug 2023
SA Abbott Australia
4/31
4
3 Sep 2023
AC Agar Australia
3/16
4
26 Feb 2020
Highest team totals
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
Australia
226/6
20
South Africa
Kingsmead, Durban
30 Aug 2023
South Africa
218/7
20
Australia
Marrara Stadium, Darwin
12 Aug 2025
Australia
209/3
20
South Africa
The Gabba, Brisbane
9 Jan 2006
Australia
205/5
20
South Africa
The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
6 Mar 2016
South Africa
204/7
20
Australia
The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
6 Mar 2016
Lowest all-out totals
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
South Africa
89
14.3
Australia
The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
21 Feb 2020
South Africa
96
15.3
Australia
Newlands, Cape Town
26 Feb 2020
South Africa
114
18.3
Australia
The Gabba, Brisbane
9 Jan 2006
South Africa
115
15.3
Australia
Kingsmead, Durban
30 Aug 2023
South Africa
130
18
Australia
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
11 Jan 2009
Biggest wins
Result
Format
Venue
Date
Australia won by 111 runs
T20I
Kingsmead, Durban
30 Aug 2023
Australia won by 107 runs
T20I
The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
21 Feb 2020
Australia won by 97 runs
T20I
Newlands, Cape Town
26 Feb 2020
Australia won by 8 wickets
T20I
R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
30 Sep 2012
Australia won by 8 wickets
T20I
Kingsmead, Durban
1 Sep 2023
South Africa won by 7 wickets
T20I
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
5 Nov 2014
Latest results
Date
Venue
Result
16 Aug 2025
Cazaly’s Stadium, Cairns
Australia won by 2 wickets
12 Aug 2025
Marrara Stadium, Darwin
South Africa won by 53 runs
10 Aug 2025
Marrara Stadium, Darwin
Australia won by 17 runs
3 Sep 2023
Kingsmead, Durban
Australia won by 5 wickets
1 Sep 2023
Kingsmead, Durban
Australia won by 8 wickets
30 Aug 2023
Kingsmead, Durban
Australia won by 111 runs
23 Oct 2021
Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Australia won by 5 wickets
26 Feb 2020
Newlands, Cape Town
Australia won by 97 runs
23 Feb 2020
St George’s Park, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
South Africa won by 12 runs
21 Feb 2020
The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Australia won by 107 runs
Most player of the match awards in South Africa vs Australia matches
Leading Players in South Africa vs Australia Stats
AB de Villiers (South Africa) piled up 1,988 Test runs at 52.32 against Australia, more than Hashim Amla (HM Amla, South Africa) on 1,574. Michael Clarke (MJ Clarke, Australia) averages 67.59 and owns the two highest Test scores, 259 not out at The Gabba and 230 at Adelaide, both in Nov 2012. Dale Steyn (DW Steyn, South Africa) leads the Test wickets with 70 and the ODI wickets with 49, so he heads both lists. Mitchell Johnson (MG Johnson, Australia) has the best Test figures, 8/61 in Dec 2008.
David Warner (DA Warner, Australia) is first on both white-ball run lists, 1,255 in ODIs and 471 in T20Is, and nobody has more match awards than his 6. Quinton de Kock’s 178 for South Africa at Centurion is the top ODI score, and D Brevis made 125 not out off 56 balls for South Africa at Darwin, the highest T20I innings.
Home Grounds, Batting First and the Toss
The Wanderers has staged 13 of these matches, split 7 to 6 in South Africa’s favour. Kingsmead has been a happy ground for Australia, with 10 wins in 12. St George’s Park (6 South African wins in 7) and, oddly, the WACA Ground in Perth (5 in 6) have been kind to South Africa. Australia were bowled out for 47 at Newlands in Nov 2011, the lowest total here.
Setting a target has paid in ODIs, 33 wins against 23 for the chasers, on a first-innings norm of 279. The T20I numbers point the other way, 17 successful chases to 11. In Tests, a correct call was followed by victory in 17 of the 27 decisive games, so the toss has carried more weight there.
Which team leads the South Africa vs Australia rivalry?
Australia, narrowly: 57 wins to South Africa’s 54 in 115 matches since Dec 2005. Australia lead in Tests (15-12) and T20Is (19-9), while South Africa lead in ODIs (33-23).
What was the last South Africa vs Australia match?
The latest was an ODI at Mackay on 24 Aug 2025, which Australia won by 276 runs. South Africa had won the two ODIs before it, by 98 runs at Cairns and 84 runs at Mackay.
What is the highest team total in South Africa vs Australia matches?
The Test record is South Africa’s 651 at Newlands in Mar 2009. In the one-day game, South Africa made 438/9 at Johannesburg on 12 Mar 2006, chasing Australia’s 434/4 in the same game.
Which batter leads the Test run list between these sides?
AB de Villiers, who made 1,988 for South Africa from 43 innings, with 6 hundreds. Hashim Amla (1,574) and Michael Clarke (1,487) follow.
What is the lowest total in South Africa vs Australia Tests?
Australia’s 47 all out at Newlands, Cape Town, on 9 Nov 2011. South Africa were also bowled out for 96 in that same Test and still won it by 8 wickets.