South Africa are all set to take on Australia in a 3-match Test series beginning with the first Test at Perth from 3 to 7 November 2016. The last time these two sides came face-to-face in the Test arena was back in 2014 when the Aussies defeated the Proteas 2-1 in their own backyard.
Over the past couple of decades, the rivalry between these two great cricketing nations has been nothing short of remarkable as they have constantly challenged each other’s supremacy in the longest format. In the process, they have also given the cricket world some classic encounters which will be remembered for a long time.
Here are 6 memorable Tests played between Australia and South Africa:
#6 Cape Town 2011
The 1st match of the 2011/12 Test series between South Africa and Australia at Cape Town was among the most absurd Tests one would ever come across. The host team chose to field after winning the toss and had things going their way after the Australians were reduced to 40 for 3.
However, a monumental 151 by the opposition skipper Michael Clarke helped propel the Aussie score to 284. A spirited bowling performance led by Shane Watson’s 5 for 17 saw the Proteas skittled out for a paltry 96 in their first innings and made Australia favourites to win the game.
But the tables were turned in the most dramatic fashion by the South African bowlers as they ran through the visitors’ batting line-up and dismissed them for just 47 runs. The match, though, was still a long way from being won as the home side required 236 to win on a seaming pitch.
South Africa lost Jacques Rudolph early and Hashim Amla came in to join skipper Graeme Smith at the crease. The duo batted with great authority and made the pitch look like a belter during their decisive 195-run partnership. Both Smith and Amla scored centuries and the hosts registered a seemingly improbable 8-wicket win.
#5 Adelaide 2012
Drawn Tests are often considered to be a boring affair but one cannot say the same about the epic encounter between Australia and South Africa at Adelaide in 2012. After batting first, Australia set the momentum of the match in their favour by amassing 550 runs in their first innings.
The South Africans came up with a very decent response as they scored 388 and gave the Aussies a lead of 162 runs. The hosts capitalised on the situation by adding 267 more in their 2nd innings, setting a daunting target of 430 for South Africa to win.
After losing their first 4 wickets with just 45 on the board, the tourists were staring at a massive defeat. However, debutant Faf du Plessis had different plans on his mind as he set about saving the Test match for his team.
du Plessis strung together two marathon partnerships, first with AB de Villiers and then Jacques Kallis, ensuring that South Africa saw through most of the day. When Kallis got out, the Proteas still needed to negotiate around 20 more overs but the young batsman stood like a colossus between Australia and victory and pulled off a draw.
#4 Durban 2002
The 3rd Test of the 2002 series between South Africa and Australia played at Durban was inconsequential in terms of the result of the series as the visitors had already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead. However, it was made memorable by the brilliant turnaround that the home team effected to win the match.
Led by Adam Gilchrist’s 91 and Ricky Ponting’s 89, the Australians posted a competitive score of 315 on the board in their first innings. The South African response was disastrous as they were bowled out for just 167, thereby conceding a lead of 148 runs to their opponents.
However, the Proteas made up for it slightly as their pacers bundled out Australia for a total of 186 in the 3rd innings of the Test. There was still a lot left to do with the bat, though, as the hosts were faced with a daunting target of 335.
An incredible 142-run opening partnership between Herschelle Gibbs and Gary Kirsten set the tone for South Africa’s chase and Gibbs carried on the good work as he got to his 6th Test century. After his dismissal, Jacques Kallis took over and led his team to a 5-wicket victory with an unbeaten 61.
#3 Port Elizabeth 1997
Australia’s tour to South Africa in early 1997 turned out to be a cherishable one for them as they registered a 2-1 victory in a 3-Test series. However, it would not have been possible had they not managed to hold their nerve to win the 2nd Test at Port Elizabeth.
A five-wicket haul from Jason Gillespie gave the Australians early advantage in the game as they bowled out the home side for 209 on Day 1. The South Africans, though, brought things back in their control when a combined effort from their bowlers blew away the visitors for a paltry 108.
The see-saw battle continued as the hosts were dismissed for only 168 in their 2nd innings. The Aussies were in initial trouble during their chase of 270 in the 4th innings as openers Mark Taylor and Matthew Hayden got out cheaply with the team score at 30 for 2.
Mark Waugh took the responsibility of anchoring the chase on his shoulders even as wickets kept falling at regular intervals. Waugh finally got out for a magnificent 116 with Australia needing just 12 runs to win.
There was another twist in the tale as Michael Bevan and Shane Warne followed in quick succession but wicket-keeper Ian Healy kept his calm to ensure a 2-wicket victory for the Australians and a series win as well.
#2 Sydney 1994
The 3-Test series during South Africa’s tour to Australia in the 1994/95 season produced one of the African nation’s greatest victories in the longest format of the game. In the 2nd Test of the series at Sydney, the visitors won the toss and decided to bat first.
However, the decision backfired as a remarkable 7 for 53 from Shane Warne helped restrict them to a low total of 169. When it was Australia’s turn to bat, they put up a pretty good performance and scored 292 runs, giving themselves a crucial lead of 123 runs.
The South African batsmen were slightly better in their 2nd innings but another Warne five-for kept them down to 239. Needing just 117 to win, the Australians got off to the worst possible start as they lost opener Michael Slater with just 4 runs on the board.
A 47-run partnership between Mark Taylor and David Boon steadied the ship but only for a while. Boon’s dismissal for 24 triggered an epic collapse which saw the hosts being reduced to 75 for 8 at one stage.
Tail-ender Craig McDermott tried to keep things together by forging a 35-run 9th wicket stand with Damien Martyn. But it was not enough as Allan Donald and Fanie de Villiers dismissed Martyn and Glenn McGrath respectively to fashion a famous 5-run victory.
#1 Johannesburg 2011
One of the most exciting clashes between Australia and South Africa in recent years took place in the 2nd Test of a 2-match series at Johannesburg in 2011. The Proteas won the toss and batted first but could not make the most of their advantage as they ended up being all out for 266 in their first innings.
Australian openers Shane Watson and Phil Hughes gave their innings a great start with a brilliant 174-run partnership. However, the rest of the batsmen were unable to capitalise on it as the visitors could only manage to take a slender 30-run lead.
A cracking century from Hashim Amla helped South Africa improve on their first innings performance by putting 339 runs on the board thereby giving their opponents a fourth-innings target of 310. After being reduced to 19 for 2 in their 2nd innings, the Aussies were staring down the barrel and risked losing the series 2-0.
But Ricky Ponting and Usman Khawaja restored order with their 122-run partnership and gave the innings some much-needed momentum. The match swung back in favour of the home side, though, as Australia lost Khawaja, Michael Clarke and Ponting in no time.
The repair job was carried out courtesy of two decisive partnerships – 50 between Brad Haddin and Mike Hussey and 72 between Haddin and Mitchell Johnson. With Haddin gone for 55 and 23 runs still required, Johnson took control in the company of Pat Cummins and manoeuvred the Aussies to an unlikely 2-wicket victory .
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