Cricket fans are really looking forward to some amazing action as Australia and South Africa bring back their famous rivalry in 2025. This match is full of new excitement and memorable moments. Before knowing about the recent match between the teams.
Let us dive into the blog to get detailed information about the historic rivalry and the test matches, ODIs, and T20 series stats between the teams.
Introduction About the Teams
The Australian Men’s Cricket Team
The Australian men’s cricket team is one of the oldest and most successful teams in the history of the sport, having played international cricket since 1877. Australia’s cricket culture is intertwined with Australia’s national identity and has produced great players like Don Bradman, Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne, and Glenn McGrath. The team has been strong in all formats of the game, including Tests, ODIs and T20Is. They have a reputation for being aggressive and ruthless; they are the most successful cricket-playing nation in recent history, with multiple ICC awards, including five World Cups and several Champions Trophy and T20 World Cup wins.
The South African Men’s Cricket Team
The international cricket team of South Africa, nicknamed as Proteas, began international play in 1889. South Africa has a unique history: the Proteas played cricket on the world stage for decades, until the end of the 1960s. They were barred from international competition for two decades between the 1970s and 1990s because of the apartheid years of increasing isolationism.
The Proteas were finally able to resume their cricketing status on 10 November 1991. Among other national teams, they quickly became one of the strongest teams in world cricket through their combination of raw pace, athleticism in the field, and quality batting (Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, and Graeme Smith, to name a few). South African teams consistently rank among the world’s best at the ICC international tournament level, and they have raised the benchmark within the ODI format. South African cricket is known for its physicality, toughness, and flair.
Australian Men’s Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team Encounters and Historic Rivalry
Australia and South Africa first met in a Test series in 1902–03, with Australia playing much stronger than South Africa, and easily winning that three-match tour 2–0. Australia followed up this series with a dominating performance against South Africa for the next several decades. This stared with South Africa’s first victory against Australia in 1935–36 when they played at Durban, which occurred within the larger context of Australia’s 2-1 series win, and it was a very significant milestone for South African rugby; and finished with South Africa dominating in 1969-70, whitewashing the Australians 4-0 in what was an enormous upset, indicating the emergence of a serious rivalry (and players with some serious talent).
The situation was held back when South Africa was separated from World Cricket due to apartheid, but once international cricket returned to South Africa after readmission in 1992, we saw the return of an intense rivalry, and we have seen some of the most competitive and entertaining matches of the past 25 years.
Record-Breaking ODIs and Historic Tests
- Multiple matches between Australia and South Africa have altered the record-setting area of cricket. The “438 Game” in Johannesburg in 2006 is perhaps the most famous one-day game, and some still rate it as the best one-day match of all time. Australia scored 434 during the first four hours of the game, but South Africa went on to score 438 runs, which marked the first successful chase of over 400 runs in one-day cricket. This was also a record for the highest number of runs scored in a one-day game.
- With test cricket, South Africa’s first-ever series win in Australia happened in 2008-09, with a famous 414/4 chase at ease, and it was only the second time in Test cricket history that a team had successfully chased over 400.
- In 2012-13, South Africa was regarded as the number one Test team in the world.
- The 2018 series is remembered for the drama off the field because of the “Sandpaper scandal”. Although Australia usually wins matches at home, South Africa has consistently performed well away from their home country, resulting in many fascinating and often talked-about matches in the history of cricket.
Australian men’s cricket team vs south africa national cricket team timeline
Here are the details of the australian men’s cricket team vs south africa national cricket team timeline:
| Format | Matches Played | Australia Wins | South Africa Wins | Draw/No Result |
| Test | 101 | 54 | 26 | 21 |
| ODI | 113 | 52 | 60 | 1 |
| T20I | 28 | 19 | 9 | 0 |
Let us now see the overall stats of the team format-wise:
Test Series Stats
| Series/Tournament | Season | Winner | Margin |
| South Africa in Australia Test Series, 2022/23 | 2022/23 | Australia | 2-0 (3) |
| Australia in South Africa Test Series, 2017/18 | 2017/18 | South Africa | 3-1 (4) |
| South Africa in Australia Test Series, 2016/17 | 2016/17 | South Africa | 2-1 (3) |
| Australia in South Africa Test Series, 2013/14 | 2013/14 | Australia | 2-1 (3) |
| South Africa in Australia Test Series, 2012/13 | 2012/13 | South Africa | 1-0 (3) |
| South Africa in Australia Test Series, 1997/98 | 1997/98 | Australia | 1-0 (3) |
| Australia in South Africa Test Series, 1996/97 | 1996/97 | Australia | 2-1 (3) |
| South Africa in Australia Test Series, 1993/94 | 1993/94 | drawn | 1-1 (3) |
| Australia in South Africa Test Series, 1993/94 | 1993/94 | drawn | 1-1 (3) |
| Australia in South Africa Test Series, 1969/70 | 1969/70 | South Africa | 4-0 (4) |
| Australia in South Africa Test Series, 1966/67 | 1966/67 | South Africa | 3-1 (5) |
| South Africa in Australia Test Series, 1963/64 | 1963/64 | drawn | 1-1 (5) |
| Australia in South Africa Test Series, 1957/58 | 1957/58 | Australia | 3-0 (5) |
| South Africa in Australia Test Series, 1952/53 | 1952/53 | drawn | 2-2 (5) |
| Australia in South Africa Test Series, 1949/50 | 1949/50 | Australia | 4-0 (5) |
| Australia in South Africa Test Series, 1935/36 | 1935/36 | Australia | 4-0 (5) |
| South Africa in Australia Test Series, 1931/32 | 1931/32 | Australia | 5-0 (5) |
| Australia in South Africa Test Series, 1921/22 | 1921/22 | Australia | 1-0 (3) |
| Australia in South Africa Test Series, 2011/12 | 2011/12 | drawn | 1-1 (2) |
| South Africa in Australia Test Series, 2008/09 | 2008/09 | South Africa | 2-1 (3) |
| Australia in South Africa Test Series, 2008/09 | 2008/09 | Australia | 2-1 (3) |
| South Africa in Australia Test Series, 2005/06 | 2005/06 | Australia | 2-0 (3) |
| Australia in South Africa Test Series, 2005/06 | 2005/06 | Australia | 3-0 (3) |
| South Africa in Australia Test Series, 2001/02 | 2001/02 | Australia | 3-0 (3) |
| Australia in South Africa Test Series, 2001/02 | 2001/02 | Australia | 2-1 (3) |
| South Africa in Australia Test Series, 1910/11 | 1910/11 | Australia | 4-1 (5) |
| Australia v South Africa Test Series (in England), 1912 | 1912 | Australia | 2-0 (3) |
| Triangular Tournament (Australia, England, South Africa in England), 1912 | 1912 | England | – |
| Australia in South Africa Test Series, 1902/03 | 1902/03 | Australia | 2-0 (3) |
ODI Series Stats
| Series/Tournament | Season | Winner | Margin |
| South Africa in Australia ODI Series, 2025 | 2025 | South Africa | 2-1 (3) |
| Australia in South Africa ODI Series, 2023/24 | 2023/24 | South Africa | 3-2 (5) |
| ICC Cricket World Cup (in India), 2023/24 | 2023/24 | Australia | – |
| Australia in South Africa ODI Series, 2019/20 | 2019/20 | South Africa | 3-0 (3) |
| South Africa in Australia ODI Series, 2018/19 | 2018/19 | South Africa | 2-1 (3) |
| Australia in South Africa ODI Series, 2016/17 | 2016/17 | South Africa | 5-0 (5) |
| South Africa in Australia ODI Series, 2014/15 | 2014/15 | Australia | 4-1 (5) |
| Australia in South Africa ODI Series, 1999/00 | 1999/00 | South Africa | 2-1 (3) |
| Carlton & United Series (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa in Australia), 1997/98 | 1997/98 | Australia | – |
| Titan Cup (Australia, India, South Africa in India), 1996/97 | 1996/97 | India | – |
| Australia in South Africa ODI Series, 1996/97 | 1996/97 | Australia | 4-3 (7) |
| Wills Triangular Series (Australia, Pakistan, South Africa in Pakistan), 1994/95 | 1994/95 | Australia | – |
| New Zealand Centenary Tournament (Australia, India, New Zealand, South Africa), 1994/95 | 1994/95 | Australia | – |
| Benson & Hedges World Series (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa in Australia), 1993/94 | 1993/94 | Australia | – |
| Australia in South Africa ODI Series, 1993/94 | 1993/94 | drawn | 4-4 (8) |
| Benson & Hedges World Cup (in Australia/New Zealand), 1991/92 | 1991/92 | Pakistan | – |
| Australia in South Africa ODI Series, 2011/12 | 2011/12 | Australia | 2-1 (3) |
| South Africa in Australia ODI Series, 2008/09 | 2008/09 | South Africa | 4-1 (5) |
| Australia in South Africa ODI Series, 2008/09 | 2008/09 | South Africa | 3-2 (5) |
| ICC World Cup (in West Indies), 2006/07 | 2006/07 | Australia | – |
| VB Series (Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka in Australia), 2005/06 | 2005/06 | Australia | – |
| Australia in South Africa ODI Series, 2005/06 | 2005/06 | South Africa | 3-2 (5) |
| VB Series (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa in Australia), 2001/02 | 2001/02 | South Africa | – |
| Australia in South Africa ODI Series, 2001/02 | 2001/02 | Australia | 5-1 (7) |
| ICC Cricket World Cup (in England), 2019 | 2019 | England | – |
| West Indies Tri-Nation Series (Australia, South Africa, West Indies), 2016 | 2016 | Australia | – |
| Zimbabwe Triangular Series (Australia, South Africa, Zimbabwe), 2014 | 2014 | South Africa | – |
| South Africa in Australia ODI Series, 2000 | 2000 | drawn | 1-1 (3) |
Australian Men’s Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team T-20 Series Stats
| Series/Tournament | Season | Winner | Margin |
| South Africa in Australia T20I Series, 2025 | 2025 | Australia | 2-1 (3) |
| Australia in South Africa T20I Series, 2023/24 | 2023/24 | Australia | 3-0 (3) |
| ICC Men’s T20 World Cup (in Oman/United Arab Emirates), 2021/22 | 2021/22 | Australia | – |
| Australia in South Africa T20I Series, 2019/20 | 2019/20 | Australia | 2-1 (3) |
| South Africa in Australia T20I Match, 2018/19 | 2018/19 | South Africa | 1-0 (1) |
| Australia in South Africa T20I Series, 2015/16 | 2015/16 | Australia | 2-1 (3) |
| South Africa in Australia T20I Series, 2014/15 | 2014/15 | Australia | 2-1 (3) |
| Australia in South Africa T20I Series, 2013/14 | 2013/14 | Australia | 2-0 (3) |
| ICC World Twenty20 (in Sri Lanka), 2012/13 | 2012/13 | West Indies | – |
| Australia in South Africa T20I Series, 2011/12 | 2011/12 | drawn | 1-1 (2) |
| South Africa in Australia T20I Series, 2008/09 | 2008/09 | Australia | 2-0 (2) |
| Australia in South Africa T20I Series, 2008/09 | 2008/09 | South Africa | 2-0 (2) |
| South Africa in Australia T20I Match, 2005/06 | 2005/06 | Australia | 1-0 (1) |
| Australia in South Africa T20I Match, 2005/06 | 2005/06 | South Africa | 1-0 (1) |
Australian Men’s Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team Recent Match Details
On August 24, 2025, at the last ODI of Australia’s tour against South Africa, Australia won the toss and decided to bat first, and then gave an outstanding performance in Mackay. Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, and Cameron Green all achieved centuries, allowing Australia to total 431 runs with only two wickets lost in fifty overs. It was a difficult task for South Africa to pursue that total, and they collapsed for 155 all out to give Australia a huge victory by 276 runs; their largest margin of victory in ODIs against South Africa. Although Australia won this match, South Africa won the series 2-1. Keshav Maharaj was awarded Player of the Series, and Travis Head was awarded Player of the Match.
| Toss | Australia elected to bat first |
| Series | South Africa tour of Australia |
| Season | 2025 |
| Player Of The Match | Travis Head |
| Player Of The Series | Keshav Maharaj |
| Series result | South Africa won the 3-match series 2-1 |
| Match number | ODI no. 4897 |
| Match days | 24 August 2025 – day-night (50-over match) |
| Umpires | Chris Gaffaney DRSSam Nogajski DRS |
| TV Umpire | Richard Illingworth |
| Reserve Umpire | Donovan Koch |
| Match Referee | Andy Pycroft |
Conclusion
The cricket rivalry between Australia and South Africa is regarded as one of the more intense rivalries, as they are notoriously competitive across Test, ODI, and T20I cricket. Australia narrowly came out ahead of South Africa across their recent matches, with a 2-1 series win in T20Is, so one has to assume that South African supporters will use their ODI weaponry to create some serious pressure on the Australians moving forward. We are talking about a sporting competition that has seen memorable moments like the “438 Game” and the 1999 World Cup semi-final, as both teams continue to create unforgettable moments with some of the sport’s most enduring and eminent players.
