Top 5 Tests played between South Africa and Australia

The rivalry between Australia and South Africa has been one of the most absorbing contests in Test cricket for the better part of the last quarter of a century. Both teams have had some of the finest teams in the world throughout the majority of the period and have been involved in bruising Test match battles.

Inexplicably, South Africa have failed to win a series against Australia at home since their readmission to international cricket but they have actually beaten them away. It is, without a doubt, one of the biggest rivalries in cricket and before the two teams cross swords again next month, here is a look at 5 of the greatest Test matches they have been involved in.

#5 Draw at Adelaide, 2012

Drawn Test matches are usually boring affairs but there are some that can be as absorbing as ones that produce a result. The game between South Africa and Australia at Adelaide, back in 2012, was in that category.

The teams were locked at 0-0 when they arrived for the 2nd Test at Adelaide and Australia drew first blood after they made 550 in their first innings, thanks to a 230 from Michael Clarke and centuries from Michael Hussey and David Warner. South Africa could only manage 388 in response and after the hosts declared their second innings at 267 for 8, the visitors were left to score 430 to win, in more than 5 sessions.

By the 4th day, the Test looked as good as done after South Africa slumped to 45 for 4 but that is when Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers produced a spectacle of defensive batting that came to be known as the 'blockathon'. The two added only 119 runs in their partnership but consumed 68 overs in a display of dogged blocking. When the game eventually ended, du Plessis was still at the crease, having made 110 off 466 deliveries and South Africa somehow managed to escape with a draw.

#4 2 wicket win for Australia at Port Elizabeth, 1997

The Australians have recorded some memorable wins in South Africa over the years and the one they managed at Port Elizabeth in 1997 must rank among the finest. Already leading 1-0 in the series, Australia decided to bowl first in the 2nd Test at Port Elizabeth and a fine performance from their bowlers, led by Jason Gillespie's 5-wicket haul, saw them dismiss the hosts for only 209.

However, South Africa stormed back into the Test match with a superb bowling performance of their own as Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock and Brian McMillan combined to skittle Australia out for only 108. With a lead of 101, it was now South Africa's Test to lose but Australia produced a virtuoso bowling performance yet against and skittled them out for 168.

Even then, a target of 270 in the 4th innings was a steep one and South Africa were still favourites to win the game. Soon enough, they reduced Australia to 30 for 2 but Mark Waugh played a superb innings (116) and the rest of the Australian batsmen supported him as they gradually started chipping away at the target.

At the end, it was down to Ian Healy and tailender Jason Gillespie to score the last 5 runs with 2 wickets in hand. Healy hit a six and ended one of the most exciting Test matches between the 2 countries.

#3 6 wicket win for South Africa at Perth, 2008

No one quite gave South Africa a chance when they had to break the record for the highest successful chase in Australia, in the 4th innings at Perth back in 2008. However, in the end, it looked incredibly easy as they knocked off the runs without breaking much of a sweat, making it one of the most engrossing come-from-behind victories in Test clashes between the two nations.

Thanks to contributions from the middle-order and the lower middle-order, Australia made 375 in the 1st innings. In response, South Africa could not handle the pace and fury of Mitchell Johnson, who took 8 for 61 and hastened the visitors' innings to a close for only 281.

Australia made 319 in their 2nd innings and South Africa needed to score 414 to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Although South Africa lost opener Neil McKenzie early, with only 19 on the board, captain Graeme Smith dug in and along with Hashim Ama took the score to 172.

Amla and Smith (108) departed in quick succession but then Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers got together to put the game beyond Australia's reach. De Villiers scored 106 and even after Kallis got out with the score at 303, there was no cause for concern as debutant JP Duminy struck a fine half-century to see them home.

#2 2 wicket win for Australia at Johannesburg, 2011

South Africa were leading the two-match series when the teams arrived in Johannesburg for the final Test. Captain Graeme Smith won the toss and chose to bat first but could not drive home the advantage, South Africa only managing 266. Australia needed to score big in their 1st innings but they did not do much better.

After the openers Phil Hughes and Shane Watson had put on a stand of 174, they collapsed to be all out for 296. Dale Steyn wreaked havoc with a 4-wicket haul. South Africa fared better in the second innings and made 339, thanks to 105 from Hashim Amla. However, the star of the show for Australia was teenage paceman Pat Cummins, who returned figures of 6 for 79 on his Test debut.

Despite all that, it seemed unlikely that Australia would be able to make 310 to win in the 4th innings and the game looked over when Vernon Philander removed both openers in the space of 3 overs. Usman Khawaja (65) and Ricky Ponting (62) then repaired the innings and the game was back on track for the visitors.

However, Australia lost wickets regularly and it took 55 from Brad Haddin and 40 from Mitchell Johnson for them to come close to the target. In a tense finish, Australia needed 18 to win with only 2 wickets in hand and with two tailenders at the crease, South Africa must have been the favourites. However, Johnson and Cummins held their nerve to see it through against one of the best bowling attacks in the world.

#1 5 run win for South Africa at Sydney, 1993

The 2nd Test of the series at Sydney back in 1993 threw up not only the finest Test match between these two nations but perhaps one of the best games in the history of the sport. South Africa had just been readmitted into international cricket and after they chose to bat first, started off strongly.

With the score at 91-1, Hansie Cronje was dismissed and then Shane Warne (7 for 56) entered the scene to trigger a collapse that saw them fold up for only 169. Australia drove home the advantage in their first innings and made 292. Allan Donald and Fanie de Villiers took 4 wickets each to keep the hosts' score within reach. South Africa did not do much better in the second innings and it was a gritty 76 not out from Jonty Rhodes that saved them from more embarrassment. Warne tormented them again with a 5 wicket haul.

Australia needed to score only 117 to win the game and it seemed it would be a cake walk when, after the loss of Michael Slater early on, Mark Taylor and David Boon took the score to 51 for 1. That is when the game turned on its head as de Villiers dismissed Boon, Tim May and Taylor for the addition of only 5 runs to reduce Australia to 56 for 4.

Australia finished the 4th day at 63 for 4 and South Africa had somehow created a slight opening in the game. Allan Border went early in the 5th day with no addition to the score and De Villiers along with Allan Donald ran riot as Australia were reduced to 75 for 8.

However, Damien Martyn and Craig McDermott staged a comeback of sorts to take the Aussies to within 7 runs of victory. That is when Donald struck with the wicket of Martyn and after the addition of one more run, Glenn McGrath was dismissed by De Villiers as South Africa completed one of the most dramatic victories in their cricket history.