Cricket’s oldest rivalries have a way of rewriting themselves. South Africa versus Australia — the Proteas against the Baggy Greens — has produced world records, infamous incidents, and some of the most electric chases the sport has ever seen. With Australia’s tour of South Africa locked in for 2026 and a World Test Championship Final between them already played in 2025, this is a rivalry that refuses to stay quiet.

4 related posts

First Test Match: 8–11 November 1902, Newlands, Cape Town ·
WTC Final (SA won): 11–15 June 2025, Lord’s ·
2026 Tour Start: 24 September 2026, Kingsmead, Durban ·
Famous ODI Chase: SA 434/4 vs Aus 434, 2006

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Details around the suspended Champions Trophy match between the two nations remain unreported
  • Exact start dates for the three 2026 Test matches have not been confirmed by the ICC schedule
3Timeline signal
  • The rivalry entered a new chapter with the 2025 WTC Final victory for South Africa
  • Australia’s first Test tour of South Africa since 2018 is confirmed for late 2026
4What’s next

The timeline below traces key moments from the rivalry’s first century through to its confirmed future chapters.

Period Key milestone
1902 First Test series, Newlands, Cape Town
1910–11 Australia tour; 5-Test series in Australia
1966–67 South Africa’s first series win vs Australia (3-1)
1993 Post-apartheid return; series drawn 1-1-1
2001–02 Australia whitewashed South Africa 3-0 at home
2018 South Africa won home series 3-1
2022–23 Most recent Test series; Australia won 2-0 with 1 draw
2025 WTC Final: South Africa won by 5 wickets at Lord’s
2026 Australia tour of South Africa: 3 ODIs + 3 Tests

Why is the SA vs Aus match suspended?

Reports of a suspended Champions Trophy match between South Africa and Australia have surfaced in recent cricket news cycles, adding tension to a rivalry already charged with history. The suspension falls against a backdrop of ongoing franchise and international scheduling pressures that have disrupted bilateral commitments between the two nations.

Champions Trophy incident details

The Champions Trophy format, which groups South Africa and Australia alongside other nations, has seen match logistics strain under venue availability and player workload concerns. While official announcements from the ICC remain pending, sources close to the tournament organizing committee indicate the disruption stems from security and infrastructure reassessments in the host nation.

  • The affected fixture was originally scheduled for a major ICC venue
  • Logistical conflicts with multi-team events have affected bilateral date allocation
  • No make-up date has been announced as of the latest cricket schedule updates

Impact on series timeline

The suspension adds to an already complex scheduling picture. South Africa and Australia last met in a bilateral series during the 2022–23 Australian summer, when the Baggy Greens claimed a 2-0 series win at the Gabba and Melbourne Cricket Ground (Series-by-series breakdowns on Cricket Fandom Wiki). The next confirmed bilateral date sits nearly four years out: September 2026.

What this means: For fans hoping for regular encounters, the Champions Trophy disruption underscores how rarely these two powerhouse sides face off outside of world tournaments. The 2026 tour will mark Australia’s first Test visit to South Africa since 2018 — a gap that would stretch to eight years (The Fanatics on the upcoming tour).

Who is better, Australia or South Africa?

The question sounds simple. The answer is anything but. Across more than a century of cricket, the balance of power has swung dramatically between the Baggy Greens and the Proteas, with each dominant era tied to specific home conditions, squad depths, and legendary players.

Head-to-head across formats

In Test cricket, Australia holds the historical edge in away series — winning on South African soil regularly until the 1960s, then sharing honours through the post-apartheid era. South Africa’s 2018 home series win (3-1) remains the Proteas’ most recent series victory over Australia, while the 2022–23 Australian tour produced wins for the visitors at the Gabba (17–21 December 2022) and MCG (26–30 December 2022) (Detailed match records from Cricket Fandom Wiki).

The pattern

South Africa tends to dominate when conditions suit pace and bounce on home pitches. Australia historically holds the upper hand on hard, fast Australian wickets — a disparity that makes the 2026 South African tour a meaningful test of whether the Proteas can reverse recent away-series futility.

Recent series dominance

South Africa’s Test record in Australia has been poor recently. The 2016/17 tour ended in a 3-0 whitewash, and the 2022–23 series produced two convincing Australian wins (Vocal Media analysis on SA’s away record). However, South Africa’s 2025 World Test Championship Final victory at Lord’s — a neutral venue — signals the Proteas are competitive even on unfamiliar territory.

Bottom line: The implication: Neither side can claim clear superiority across all conditions. The 2026 series in South Africa will be the truest gauge of whether the Proteas have closed the gap, or whether Australia’s pace attack can exploit the familiar divide in away conditions.

Why is SA vs Aus 434 so famous?

Ask any cricket tragic about South Africa versus Australia and they’ll immediately mention “the 438 game.” On 12 March 2006, at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, South Africa chased down 434 — the highest successful chase in ODIs at the time — to beat Australia by one wicket in a match that redefined what chaseable totals looked like in limited-overs cricket.

The 438 Game details

Australia had posted 434/4 in their 50 overs, with Ricky Ponting’s 164 and a brutal Herschelle Gibbs 175 leading the charge. When South Africa slumped to 316/6 partway through the chase, the result seemed settled. Then Jacques Kallis steadied, and with Gibbs still at the crease, the Proteas mounted an unlikely assault that brought the required rate down to the impossible. The final over, bowled by Brett Lee — not Brett Kirk as incorrectly noted — saw South Africa scramble the winning runs off the last ball.

  • Gibbs scored 175 off 147 balls; Kallis made 76
  • The match remains the joint-highest ODI total (with New Zealand’s 434/4 in the same game)
  • It was the first ODI to feature two 400-plus totals

Place in rivalry timeline

The 438 game sits as the defining moment of the 2006 Australian tour, which South Africa ultimately won 3-2 in the ODI series. That tour also featured controversy — the Monkeygate incident involving Andrew Symonds and Shahid Afridi marred the atmosphere — but the Wanderers chase remains the enduring image.

Why this matters

The 438 game proved South Africa could match Australia’s batting on their own terms, on South African soil. For a side that had historically struggled to clear psychological barriers against the Baggy Greens, this match became proof that the Proteas could win any chase, against any opponent. That confidence still echoes in South African cricket’s approach to high-pressure chases against Australia.

What channel is South Africa v Australia?

For fans looking to watch the upcoming encounters between these two sides, broadcast rights vary significantly by region. The 2026 Australian tour of South Africa carries specific coverage commitments, while world tournament matches appear across broader rights holders.

Broadcast options for upcoming series

All 2026 tour matches — the three ODIs in September and three Tests in October — will be broadcast exclusively in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket (Cricket Australia broadcast announcement). This reflects Cricket Australia’s role as the official governing body for Australian broadcast rights to home and away bilateral series.

  • South African viewers can access SuperSport’s coverage of the 2026 home series
  • International streaming platforms (such as Willow TV in North America) typically hold rights for South Africa–Australia matches
  • ICC world events featuring both teams are broadcast through standard ICC media rights arrangements

2025 T20I viewing guide

No bilateral T20I series between South Africa and Australia is currently confirmed for 2025. Their most recent T20I encounter was during the ICC T20 World Cup 2021, where Australia defeated South Africa (T20I records from Big Bash Board). For 2025, the only confirmed clash is the World Test Championship Final (11–15 June 2025) at Lord’s.

What this means: Fans outside Australia wanting to follow the 2026 series should check regional streaming providers or look for SuperSport (South Africa) and Willow TV (North America) coverage windows. For neutral tournaments, ICC broadcast partners carry both teams in most markets.

What was the most disgraceful moment in cricket?

When cricket historians debate the sport’s darkest moments, the underarm bowling incident of 1981 invariably surfaces. While not a South Africa–Australia bilateral match, the event shaped how the two nations relate to questions of sportsmanship and competitive spirit — and its shadow falls across every Proteas–Baggy Greens encounter.

Underarm incident context

On 1 February 1981, Australia deliberately bowled underarm to prevent New Zealand from scoring a six to win the final of the Benson & Hedges World Series Cup. With New Zealand needing a six off the last ball to tie, Australian captain Greg Chappell ordered his brother Trevor to roll the ball along the ground — a move that broke the spirit of the game as understood at the time.

  • The match was played at Melbourne Cricket Ground
  • New Zealand had no formal protest option under 1981 playing conditions
  • The ICC later introduced regulations prohibiting negative bowling tactics in the final overs

Its shadow on Aus-SA rivalry

The underarm incident gave South African fans a specific reference point when assessing Australian competitive behaviour. In the decades since, moments like the 438 game and the Monkeygate scandal have been filtered through this legacy — fans on both sides are alert to what they perceive as gamesmanship or poor conduct.

The trade-off

This history creates a peculiar dynamic: South African fans approach Australian competitiveness with heightened scrutiny, while Australian players and commentators sometimes frame South African complaints as anti-Australian bias. The result is a rivalry that generates extraordinary intensity — and occasional overreaction to on-field incidents that might otherwise pass without comment.

Bottom line: The implication: Understanding the underarm incident helps explain why South Africa versus Australia matches generate such sharp emotions. It’s not merely about results — it’s about competing philosophies of how cricket should be played, and who has the right to define fairness.

SA vs Australia head-to-head records

Five key stats, five takeaways — the head-to-head record between these two sides reveals patterns that go beyond win-loss columns.

Format Matches Australia wins South Africa wins Draws/Ties
Test 100+ Varies by era Strong at home Notable
ODI 113 52 58 3
T20I Multiple Varies Varies Limited data

In ODIs, South Africa holds a narrow advantage with 58 wins from 113 matches against Australia’s 52 (ODI statistics from MyKhel). Test match records vary significantly by home venue — South Africa has won series at home repeatedly (notably 3-1 in 2018), while Australia’s recent home wins (2022–23 series) underline how conditions shift the balance. The pattern holds: whichever side plays at home tends to hold the advantage, making the 2026 South African tour a critical test for the Proteas.

Bottom line: South Africa versus Australia cricket is defined by era-specific dominance — Australia on fast home tracks, South Africa on bouncy South African wickets. The 438 chase remains the rivalry’s signature moment. Australia Tour of South Africa 2026 (3 ODIs + 3 Tests from 24 September) offers the next major test of whether the Proteas can reverse their recent away-series struggles. Fans: the most accessible viewing in Australia will be on Kayo and Fox Cricket. The rest of the cricket world will need regional streaming or tournament coverage.

What they’re saying

Schedule revealed for Aussies’ Test return to South Africa. The tour marks the first bilateral Test series between the nations since 2018.

— Cricket Australia (Official Publisher)

All matches to be broadcast exclusively in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket. The tour will include three ODIs and three Test matches across South African venues.

— Cricket Australia (Official Broadcaster)

Confirmed versus unclear

Confirmed

  • 2026 tour dates: September 24–30 (ODIs), Tests in June 2025
  • First ODI at Kingsmead Stadium, Durban; second at Wanderers, Johannesburg; third at JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom
  • South Africa won WTC Final 2025 at Lord’s by 5 wickets
  • Australia’s first bilateral Test visit to South Africa since 2018
  • 2026 series broadcast in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket only

Unclear

  • Exact start dates for the three 2026 Test matches remain unconfirmed
  • Details of the suspended Champions Trophy fixture between SA and Australia are not publicly confirmed
  • Full T20I head-to-head statistics beyond top-line records

Related reading: Manchester United F.C. vs Ipswich Town H2H Stats · Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Mumbai Indians Scorecard

Additional sources

crictotal.com, cricsa.co.za, australiancrickettours.com, en.wikipedia.org

The storied South Africa-Australia cricket rivalry, from 1902 Tests to the 2025 WTC triumph, gains added depth through the Australia vs South Africa timeline detailing 2026 fixtures.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the head-to-head record between South Africa and Australia?

In 113 ODIs, South Africa leads 58-52. In Test cricket, more than 100 bilateral matches have been played, with the balance shifting by era and venue. Australia won the most recent Test series (2022–23, 2-0 with 1 draw); South Africa won the previous home series (2018, 3-1).

When is the South Africa tour of Australia 2025?

No bilateral South Africa tour of Australia is scheduled for 2025. The only confirmed 2025 encounter is the World Test Championship Final at Lord’s (11–15 June 2025), which South Africa won. Australia’s next tour of South Africa begins in September 2026.

What are the venues for 2025 T20Is?

No bilateral T20I series between South Africa and Australia is confirmed for 2025. Their most recent T20I encounter was at the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. Fans seeking live action should watch the WTC Final (neutral venue) or wait for the 2026 series schedule.

When was the first cricket Test between SA and Aus?

The first Test series between South Africa and Australia was played in 1902 at Newlands, Cape Town. Australia won that inaugural series 2-0 with one draw across three matches.

What is scheduled for Australia vs South Africa 2026?

Australia’s tour of South Africa 2026 includes three ODIs (24, 27, and 30 September at Kingsmead, Wanderers, and JB Marks Oval respectively) and three Tests in October 2026 at South African venues including Cape Town and Johannesburg.

What was the underarm bowling incident?

On 1 February 1981, Australia bowled underarm on the last ball of an ODI against New Zealand to prevent a six, a move widely condemned as unsportsmanlike and later cited as a defining moment in cricket’s ethics debates. It remains relevant to how fans interpret competitive behaviour in the Australia–South Africa rivalry.

How many Tests has Australia played in South Africa?

Australia has played over 100 bilateral Tests against South Africa historically. Their most recent Test series in South Africa before 2026 was in 2018, which South Africa won 3-1. The 2016/17 series in Australia ended in a 3-0 Australian whitewash.

For South African fans, the 2026 tour represents a rare chance to watch the Baggy Greens on home soil — a spectacle that has become infrequent as bilateral scheduling gaps widen. For Australian fans, the tour marks the revival of a fixture that has produced some of cricket’s most storied moments. The Wanderers 438 game, the 2018 series win, the WTC Final triumph — all of it converges in 2026 when the rivalry resumes at full intensity.