Australia and South Africa share one of the most intense and long standing rivalries in cricket, spanning across all three formats – Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. The rivalry is characterized by its fierce competitiveness, passionate fan bases, history of memorable encounters (1999 World Cup Semifinal, 2007 World Cup Semifinal), and a infamous ball-tampering scandal in 2018 (Cape Town).
In their last meeting, which came in ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, South Africa pulled off a thrilling upset against Australia, winning by 5 wickets.
Both teams have been consistently among the top-ranked cricket nations, often vying for supremacy in the world cricket scene. Australia’s aggressive and in-your-face approach often clashes with South Africa’s more calculated and resilient style, creating an intriguing clash of personalities on the field.
Talking about historical context, South Africa’s return to international cricket post-apartheid added a layer of emotional depth to the rivalry, as they sought to re-establish their dominance against a formidable opponent.
Head-to-Head Records
| Tests | Australia Won | South Africa Won | Draws/Tied |
| 101 | 54 | 26 | 21/0 |
| ODIs | Australia Won | South Africa Won | No Result/ Tied |
| 110 | 51 | 55 | 1/3 |
| T20Is | Australia Won | South Africa Won | Tied/No Result |
| 25 | 17 | 8 | 0/0 |
