Australia vs South Africa Head to Head in Tests: 104 Matches, Australia Lead 55 to 28 Ahead of the Newlands Decider

The rivalry between Australia and South Africa is one of the fiercest contests in Test cricket, and the head to head record between the two teams tells a story of long battles, famous comebacks, and unforgettable moments. Australia and South Africa have played 104 Test matches against each other. Australia won 55 of those matches, South Africa won 28, and 21 Tests ended in draws.

The current Australia tour of South Africa has added another thrilling chapter to this great rivalry. The 2026 Test series stands level at 1-1 after two wildly different matches, and everything is now set for a series decider at Newlands in Cape Town. For full dates, venues, and start times of the tour, see the Australia tour of South Africa 2026 schedule.

Australia won the opening Test at Kingsmead in Durban by 214 runs, with Matt Renshaw named Player of the Match. South Africa hit back in style at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, crushing Australia by an innings and 31 runs on the back of a career-best 179 from captain Temba Bavuma. The contrast between the two results has set up a mouth-watering decider.

This article brings you the complete Australia vs South Africa head to head record in Tests, the key records from more than a century of contests, a full recap of the 2026 series so far, and a preview of the Newlands decider. It also explains what the result will mean for the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 points table.

Australia vs South Africa Head to Head in Tests: Overall Record

How many Tests have Australia and South Africa played? The two teams have met in 104 Test matches since their first meeting in 1902. Australia won 55 of those matches, South Africa won 28, and 21 matches ended without a result. That is the complete Australia vs South Africa head to head in Tests record, and it shows just how long and hard this contest has been fought.

The rivalry began on October 11, 1902, when Australia and South Africa played their first ever Test. That historic match ended in a draw, and it started a contest that has now run for more than 120 years. Very few rivalries in world cricket carry this much history, and every new series adds fresh memories to the story.

On South African soil, the teams have played 54 Tests. Australia won 29 of those matches, South Africa won 16, and 9 were drawn. These numbers show why Australia has traditionally enjoyed touring South Africa, but they also show how strongly the home team has fought back in recent years. The record of South Africa at home keeps getting better with every passing series.

For supporters of Australia cricket, the overall record is a source of great pride. Australia has won more than half of all Tests in this fixture, and the team has produced some of the greatest fast bowling spells in the history of the contest. For followers of South Africa cricket, the recent trend is the real story. South Africa won the ICC World Test Championship Final in 2025 and then fought back from a heavy defeat to level the 2026 series, which shows how far the team has come.

The numbers also reveal how evenly the recent contests have been fought. While Australia leads the all-time count by 27 wins, South Africa has closed the gap in the modern era with strong home performances and famous victories. The 21 draws in the overall record also tell a story of hard-fought matches where neither side gave an inch.

Recent Meetings: The 2026 Series So Far

Who won the 2nd Test between SA and Aus? South Africa won it by an innings and 31 runs at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, from October 18 to 22, 2026. Temba Bavuma was named Player of the Match for his career-best 179, and the result levelled the series at 1-1 ahead of the Newlands decider.

The 1st Test at Kingsmead in Durban, played from October 9 to 13, belonged completely to Australia. Australia won the toss and chose to bat, then posted 390 in the first innings and 314 for 6 declared in the second. South Africa made 284 and 206, which left Australia winners by a huge margin of 214 runs. Matt Renshaw was the Player of the Match for a superb batting display, and fans in India watched the action live on Eurosport and FanCode.

The 2nd Test produced a stunning turnaround. Australia won the toss and chose to field, and the decision backfired badly. South Africa recovered from 110 for 6 to reach 425 for 9 declared, thanks to the 179 of Bavuma, 85 from Marco Jansen, and 82 from Simon Harmer. Australia then collapsed to 99 all out in the first innings, with Jansen taking 5 for 33 in a devastating spell.

Forced to follow on, and this was only the third time Australia had followed on since 1988, the visitors showed more fight in the second innings. Travis Head smashed 121, nightwatchman Scott Boland ground out 40 from 166 balls, and Alex Carey stayed unbeaten on 37. But Kagiso Rabada took 4 for 77 and Wiaan Mulder took 3 for 64, and Australia were dismissed for 295. It was the first innings defeat suffered by Australia since 2023.

The rivalry also produced one of the most famous matches of recent times before this series. In the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord’s on June 11, 2025, South Africa beat Australia by 5 wickets to win their maiden WTC title. Australia made 212 and 207, while South Africa replied with 138 and 282 for 5. Aiden Markram was the Player of the Match, and that victory gave South Africa huge belief heading into the 2026 home series.

The Australia vs South Africa Test series 2026 results so far show two teams at the peak of their powers, trading blows like heavyweight boxers. Australia dominated the opener, South Africa dominated the second Test, and the decider at Newlands will settle the argument once and for all.

Key Records in Australia vs South Africa Tests

Who scored 179 in the SA vs Aus 2nd Test? Temba Bavuma, the South Africa captain, scored a career-best 179 at St George’s Park. It is the highest individual score of the 2026 series and one of the finest innings in recent Australia vs South Africa Tests, played under huge pressure with the team in deep trouble.

The team records in this fixture show how high the standard has been over the years. The highest team total by South Africa is 540, while the highest by Australia is 575. At the other end, the lowest totals make for painful reading. South Africa were once bowled out for 99, and Australia once collapsed to just 35, which remains the lowest total in the history of the fixture.

The highest successful run chase listed in the fixture records is 540 by South Africa, while the highest chase completed by Australia is 314. When it comes to defending small totals, South Africa defended 429 and Australia defended 416, which are the lowest totals successfully defended by each side in this rivalry. These records show that no total has ever been safe when these two teams meet.

Individual records from the 2026 series already deserve a place in the history books. Marco Jansen took 5 for 33 in the first innings of the 2nd Test, a brilliant five-wicket haul that broke the back of the Australia batting line-up. Travis Head answered with a superb 121 in the follow-on innings, a century that kept Australia alive far longer than anyone expected.

The Player of the Match awards in recent meetings have gone to the true match-winners. Aiden Markram took the award in the WTC Final of 2025, Matt Renshaw won it in the 1st Test of 2026, and Temba Bavuma claimed it in the 2nd Test. Each of these performances changed the course of its match and added a new layer to this great rivalry.

The Newlands Decider: 3rd Test Preview

When is the SA vs Aus 3rd Test? The 3rd Test starts on October 27, 2026, at Newlands in Cape Town, and it will run until October 31. The series is level at 1-1, so the match is a straight decider for the series, with everything to play for across five days.

Newlands is one of the most beautiful and historic grounds in world cricket, and it has hosted many famous Australia vs South Africa battles. The previous Test meeting between the two teams at Newlands ended in a big win for the home side, as South Africa won by 322 runs. That result will give the current South Africa squad plenty of confidence as they prepare for the decider.

Newlands also carries painful memories for Australia. The ground is remembered as the venue of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal involving Australian players, an episode that shook world cricket. The current Australia team will want to create much happier memories at the venue this time around.

Team news adds extra spice to the decider. Pat Cummins expects Cameron Green and Josh Inglis to be available for selection, which would strengthen the Australia squad in both batting and bowling. Anrich Nortje is a doubt for South Africa with a groin injury, and his raw pace would be a big loss for the home attack. Nathan Lyon may return at Newlands to add experience to the spin department, while Steven Smith is under real pressure after scores of 28 and 3 in the 2nd Test.

The conditions at Newlands usually offer help for both seamers and spinners as the match goes on. The team that wins the toss will have a big decision to make, and early wickets could decide the direction of the match. With the series on the line, expect a fierce contest from the first ball to the last.

For supporters who want to plan their viewing, the SA vs Aus 3rd Test Newlands date and time details are simple to follow. Play starts at 10:00 AM SAST, 1:30 PM IST, 1:00 PM PKT, 8:00 AM GMT, and 7:00 PM AEDT, so fans across the world can follow every session of the decider.

Players to Watch at Newlands

The Newlands decider will be shaped by the big-match players, and both squads are packed with them. Temba Bavuma leads the list after his career-best 179 in the 2nd Test. The South Africa captain showed immense calm when his team was 110 for 6, and his leadership has been a key part of the home comeback in this series.

Travis Head is the danger man for Australia. His 121 in the follow-on innings at St George’s Park was full of attacking strokes, and he has a habit of scoring fast when the pressure is highest. If Head gets going at Newlands, Australia will always stay in the contest, no matter what the scoreboard says.

Marco Jansen has been the breakout star of the series. The tall left-arm seamer took 5 for 33 in the first innings of the 2nd Test and then smashed 85 with the bat. Players who change matches with both bat and ball are rare, and Jansen is quickly becoming one of them. Australia must find a plan for him at Newlands.

Kagiso Rabada remains the leader of the South Africa pace attack. His 4 for 77 in the second innings at Gqeberha showed his class, and the Newlands surface should suit his skiddy pace and sharp bouncers. For Australia, Pat Cummins will need to lead from the front after the innings defeat, while Matt Renshaw will want to repeat his 1st Test heroics in the decider.

Two selection stories could decide the match. Cameron Green and Josh Inglis may return for Australia, which would add depth to both batting and bowling. For South Africa, the possible absence of Anrich Nortje with a groin injury would hurt the pace attack, while the possible return of Nathan Lyon for Australia at Newlands could be just as important in the fourth innings.

Aiden Markram, the hero of the 2025 Final, and Steven Smith, fighting for form, are two more players with a point to prove. Smith made only 28 and 3 in the 2nd Test, and a big score in the decider would silence the critics. Markram will want to show that his masterclass in the 2025 Final was no one-off performance.

What the Decider Means for the WTC Table

The 2026 series is part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27, which means the Newlands decider carries weight far beyond the series trophy. The result will shape the WTC points table and the race for the final, so both teams will treat this match like a knockout game.

South Africa are the defending champions after their famous win over Australia in the WTC Final at Lord’s in 2025. A series win at home would strengthen their title defence and keep them near the top of the standings. For Australia, winning the decider would be sweet revenge for the Final defeat and a huge step toward another final appearance.

Every Test in the WTC cycle matters because teams play a limited number of series. Dropping points at home hurts badly, and winning away is pure gold. That is why both teams have treated every session of this series like a final, and that is why the Newlands Test promises to be a classic contest.

The WTC 2025-27 table rewards consistent performance across the whole cycle. A drawn series would leave both teams with work to do in their remaining matches, while a win would give either side serious momentum. Fans should keep a close eye on the points table as the Newlands Test unfolds ball by ball.

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