South Africa vs Australia

The South Africa vs Australia head-to-head stats and SA vs AUS past results show that the two teams have a fierce competition that is marked by great performances, dramatic losses, and often, controversy. In this competition, neither team gives an inch, and games are often decided by very small scores.

Overview by Match Format

• Test Cricket

  Australia has generally had a big edge in Test matches. Australia and South Africa have played 101 games against each other. Australia has won 54 games, South Africa has won 26, and 21 games have ended in a tie. But this general record doesn't fully show how intense things are or how the power has changed, especially recently. Starting in the late 2000s and going on, South Africa has made a big comeback in Test cricket against Australia.

  • 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship Final: South Africa beat Australia by 5 wickets in the WTC Final, which was a huge match. This was a historic moment for the Proteas. It proved that they are a top Test country and made up for past losses. This is the most recent and most important result in the history of the SA vs AUS series. It will have a direct effect on how the 2026 series plays out.
  • Australia in Australia (December 2022-January 2023): Australia won all three games at home, easily taking the first two Tests by 6 wickets and an innings and 182 runs, respectively. The third Test ended in a tie, which kept South Africa from winning all three games.
  • South Africa in South Africa (March-April 2018): This set of four matches became famous for the "Sandpaper-gate" incident. South Africa won the series 3-1, which was a big win at home that showed how tough they were. This series remains a contentious but crucial part of their South Africa vs Australia match history.
  • Australia in Australia (November 2016): The first two Tests were won easily by South Africa, giving them a memorable 2-1 series win in Australia. This was the Proteas' only away series win against Australia.
  • South Africa in South Africa (February-March 2014): Australia won this three-match series 2-1, with Mitchell Johnson and others putting in some amazing efforts. Australia was coached by Michael Clarke.
  • Australia in Australia (November-December 2012): In a three-match series, South Africa beat Australia 1-0. The third Test was an exciting final, and South Africa won the series.
  • Australia in South Africa (February-March 2009): South Africa won a historic 2-1 series in Australia. It was their first series win there since being allowed to play again. This was an important turning point in the Test competition.
• One-Day International (ODI)

  The ODI South Africa vs Australia head-to-head stats are incredibly close. South Africa has won 55 of the 110 games, while Australia has won 51. One game ended in a tie, and three games ended with no winner. The fact that they are so close shows how competitive their limited-overs games are.

  • 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Semi-Final (November 2023): Australia beat South Africa by three wickets in a very close game. This sad loss was the eighth time in ICC events that South Africa lost in the semifinals. Australia went on to win the World Cup.
  • South Africa in South Africa (September 2023): South Africa defeated Australia in a five-match series, coming back from 0-2 down to win 3-2. They scored huge scores and showed off their amazing hitting skills. This series was a good sign of South Africa's return to form in white-ball cricket.
  • South Africa in South Africa (February-March 2020): It was a clean win for South Africa as they won all three games at home.
  • South Africa in Australia (November 2018): South Africa won all three games by a score of 2-1.
  • South Africa in South Africa (September-October 2016): In a famous show of limited-overs dominance, South Africa beat Australia 5-0.
• Twenty20 International (T20I)

  In T20Is, Australia holds a slight edge. Out of 23 matches, Australia has won 14, while South Africa has won 9. Their games have often ended with a lot of runs, since both teams have strong batters and fast bowlers. There was a T20I series in August 2023. Australia beat South Africa 3-0 in a series of three games. In the T20 World Cups, both teams have had good and bad luck against each other, often in important group stage or final games.

  The history of South Africa vs Australia series winners in different formats shows that Australia has historically been stronger, but South Africa has closed the gap a lot in the 21st century, often winning home series and, most importantly, beating them in the most recent ICC Test final. This in-depth look at past South Africa vs Australia results and matches is important for understanding how competitive things are now and how tough the upcoming 2026 tour is likely to be.

* Refers only to Test cricket encounters.