Head-to-Head Test records for teams against South Africa

[szrana007]

So I was looking at head to head records for test teams against South Africa
Following are the records

Australia

Matches Played 98
Matches Won 52
Matches Drawn 20
Matches Lost 26

W/L ratio = 2.0

England

Matches Played 153
Matches Won 64
Matches Drawn 55
Matches Lost 34

W/L ratio = 1.882

India

Matches Played 39
Matches Won 14
Matches Drawn 10
Matches Lost 15

W/L ratio = 0.933

Sri Lanka

Matches Played 31
Matches Won 9
Matches Drawn 6
Matches Lost 16

W/L ratio = 0.563

Pakistan

Matches Played 27
Matches Won 5
Matches Drawn 7
Matches Lost 15

W/L ratio = 0.333

West Indies

Matches Played 28
Matches Won 3
Matches Drawn 7
Matches Lost 18

W/L ratio = 0.167

New Zealand

Matches Played 45
Matches Won 4
Matches Drawn 16
Matches Lost 25

W/L ratio = 0.16

So the following stands out from the above mentioned records

Australia and England are the only 2 teams to have a positive win loss record against South Africa.

3rd best record against South Africa belongs to India.

West Indies and New Zealand have the worst record against South Africa among the top 8 test playing nations. In fact New Zealand haven't won a test series against SA in their entire history.

 

[Ab Fan]

Hence proved, South Africa are the greatest cricket nation of all-time, only behind Pakistan and India.

 

[szrana007]

Hence proved, South Africa are the greatest cricket nation of all-time, only behind Pakistan and India.

lol not really

 

[Heisenberg111]

Pakistan have a pretty poor record against SA as well.

 

[Heisenberg111]

Hence proved, South Africa are the greatest cricket nation of all-time, only behind Pakistan and India.

Australia and England are the greatest cricketing nations of all time.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Surprised that NZ have been so awful against Pakistan.

But clearly among SENA nations, they get terrified the most against extreme pace so probably it's because of that.

 

[szrana007]

Surprised that NZ have been so awful against Pakistan.

But clearly among SENA nations, they get terrified the most against extreme pace so probably it's because of that.

Against South Africa you mean

 

[RyanRyan10]

Stats of Bangladesh and Zimbabwe should also be included in the post

 

[szrana007]

Stats of Bangladesh and Zimbabwe should also be included in the post

You are right. So there you go.

Bangladesh

Matches Played 12
Matches Won 0
Matches Drawn 2
Matches Lost 10

W/L ratio = 0.00

Zimbabwe

Matches Played 9
Matches Won 0
Matches Drawn 1
Matches Lost 8

W/L ratio = 0.00

Both Bangladesh and Zimbabwe are yet to win a test match against South Africa.

 

[Abdullah Rabbani]

Australia and England are the greatest cricketing nations of all time.

Both are benefited by past results against minnow sa

 

[TNAmarkFromIndia]

Australia and England are the only 2 teams to have a positive win loss record against South Africa.

Hopefully India is added to that list by the end of the year.

 

[umerz]

I am not sure if Pakistan has won a test series against South Africa

 

[Abdullah Rabbani]

I am not sure if Pakistan has won a test series against South Africa

They have won 1 series at home and lost 2

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

You are right. So there you go.

Bangladesh

Matches Played 12
Matches Won 0
Matches Drawn 2
Matches Lost 10

W/L ratio = 0.00

Zimbabwe

Matches Played 9
Matches Won 0
Matches Drawn 1
Matches Lost 8

W/L ratio = 0.00

Both Bangladesh and Zimbabwe are yet to win a test match against South Africa.

lol.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I am not sure if Pakistan has won a test series against South Africa

Won back in 2003.

 

[Ab Fan]

Australia and England are the greatest cricketing nations of all time.

1970s- SA had a legendary team but didn't got to play due to apartheid ban. The level of talent was insane in that setup at that time.
The likes of Mike Proctor, Barry Richards, Graeme Pollock, Eddie Barlow, Vincent Van der Bijl, Peter Pollock etc.

Now look at their performance post 1990.

<B>1990s</B>- Came after the ban and straightaway became a top team, were among the best teams of that decade with a W/L better than everyone. Got unlucky against England in 1992 world cup and Australia in 1999. They were undefeated till the group stage in 1996 world cup too. Won test series pretty much everywhere by end of that decade only. England and India were awful.

<B>2000s</B>- They were as good as England and India and only behind Australia.

<B>2010s</B>- Only behind India.

This decade has only started. But they have been the only team alongside Australia to be qualified in the top three teams of the last three decades. Also, some of their legends have been revolutionary in the fielding department. A strong SA team makes the game far more entertaining.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Pakistan's record against South Africa is (unsurprisingly) quite awful. Even in the 90s, when Pakistan was by many standards at its peak, South Africa were the better team. Plus by the end of 90s Pakistan's dominance at had virtually ended..and in a big way.

Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and even Zimbabwe all won their first ever series in Pakistan in the 90s. By 2000, England had won one too and Sri Lanka had won another one. By comparison, India even at one of its worst points during the 90s was virtually unbeatable at home. IIRC only Pakistan was able to beat India in India in the 90s and even in that series the last match didn't count as part of the series and instead counted as one of the Asian Test Championship, so officially it ended in a draw.

 

[Ab Fan]

These stats prove that Pakistan and New Zealand struggle most against extreme pace and bounce. Both the teams have woeful record vs SA over last three decades.

 

[pakistani pride]

Pakistan's record against South Africa is (unsurprisingly) quite awful. Even in the 90s, when Pakistan was by many standards at its peak, South Africa were the better team. Plus by the end of 90s Pakistan's dominance at had virtually ended..and in a big way.

Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and even Zimbabwe all won their first ever series in Pakistan in the 90s. By 2000, England had won one too and Sri Lanka had won another one. By comparison, India even at one of its worst points during the 90s was virtually unbeatable at home. IIRC only Pakistan was able to beat India in India in the 90s and even in that series the last match didn't count as part of the series and instead counted as one of the Asian Test Championship, so officially it ended in a draw.

Yes, India always have been unbeatable at home, no matter the decade.

 

[Abdullah Rabbani]

You are right. So there you go.

Bangladesh

Matches Played 12
Matches Won 0
Matches Drawn 2
Matches Lost 10

W/L ratio = 0.00

Zimbabwe

Matches Played 9
Matches Won 0
Matches Drawn 1
Matches Lost 8

W/L ratio = 0.00

Both Bangladesh and Zimbabwe are yet to win a test match against South Africa.

Bangladesh will thrash this side in next tour

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Bangladesh will thrash this side in next tour

You seem oblivious to the fact that this Bangladesh side got thrashed by Zimbabwe and Afghanistan not too long ago. At best they will draw the series like they did against Australia and England.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

These stats prove that Pakistan and New Zealand struggle most against extreme pace and bounce. Both the teams have woeful record vs SA over last three decades.

Well New Zealand have not toured South Africa since 2013 so I don't think this is a fair claim any longer. Especially when they are sitting at the top of the test rankings.

 

[szrana007]

Well New Zealand have not toured South Africa since 2013 so I don't think this is a fair claim any longer. Especially when they are sitting at the top of the test rankings.

NZL last toured SA in 2016 and lost there. At home too, they lost to SA in 2017. They are yet to win a test series against SA and they have been playing SA for almost 70 years now.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

NZL last toured SA in 2016 and lost there. At home too, they lost to SA in 2017. They are yet to win a test series against SA and they have been playing SA for almost 70 years now.

My bad. But New Zealand have come a long way since 2016. The last time they lost at home is also coincidentally back in 2016/17. Would be much more interesting to see how they fare against South Africa now, especially away.

 

[Ab Fan]

My bad. But New Zealand have come a long way since 2016. The last time they lost at home is also coincidentally back in 2016/17. Would be much more interesting to see how they fare against South Africa now, especially away.

Yeah but NZ still have to prove themselves against teams that has genuine pace attack away from home. They failed in Australia last year and it was actually not even a competitive performance. This is their best chance now.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Yeah but NZ still have to prove themselves against teams that has genuine pace attack away from home. They failed in Australia last year and it was actually not even a competitive performance. This is their best chance now.

Tbh they have almost always looked like minnows against Australia for some reason. Its something you can't fully explain, especially the recent tour. Even in 2015 when Australia last toured, New Zealand had a fairly good side and were in the midst of their resurgence yet Australia completely demolished them in both tests.

 

[Ab Fan]

Tbh they have almost always looked like minnows against Australia for some reason. Its something you can't fully explain, especially the recent tour. Even in 2015 when Australia last toured, New Zealand had a fairly good side and were in the midst of their resurgence yet Australia completely demolished them in both tests.

Not always. They have won 2-3 series at home vs Australia in past, I think drew in Australia in 2011 too. It is against South Africa that their record is really poor both home and away.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

Not always. They have won 2-3 series at home vs Australia in past, I think drew in Australia in 2011 too. It is against South Africa that their record is really poor both home and away.

SA win in NZ In 2017 was a fluke. They got lucky that the rain saved them. Look at the scores. NZ would have won 2-1 if wasn't for rain. But the games NZ were going to win were rained out.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Not always. They have won 2-3 series at home vs Australia in past, I think drew in Australia in 2011 too. It is against South Africa that their record is really poor both home and away.

Not always, almost always. You would have to go back to the days of Richard Hadlee to when they last they beat Australia. They held Australia to a draw in 2001 aswell but that is not the same as winning.

With South Africa their record is horrible, yes. But they never got to play South Africa during their peak. Result could be much different the next time they play South Africa in 2022.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

SA win in NZ In 2017 was a fluke. They got lucky that the rain saved them. Look at the scores. NZ would have won 2-1 if wasn't for rain. But the games NZ were going to win were rained out.

This too. New Zealand had the upper hand in the first test but in the third test in particular, South Africa were most certainly on course for an innings defeat. They were lucky rain saved them on both occasions.

 

[Ab Fan]

SA win in NZ In 2017 was a fluke. They got lucky that the rain saved them. Look at the scores. NZ would have won 2-1 if wasn't for rain. But the games NZ were going to win were rained out.

I agree. They got lucky in that test match just like they were unlucky in 2015 WC semi final and 1992 semi final. It's all part of the game.

 

[Ab Fan]

Not always, almost always. You would have to go back to the days of Richard Hadlee to when they last they beat Australia. They held Australia to a draw in 2001 aswell but that is not the same as winning.

With South Africa their record is horrible, yes. But they never got to play South Africa during their peak. Result could be much different the next time they play South Africa in 2022.

NZ had some success in early 2000s also when they drew a test series in India and also one in Australia against a great Australian side in 2001-02. But no success against South Africa in last three decades in tests.

 

[Buffet]

Many teams will improve in Head to Head record in the coming years.

 

[szrana007]

NZ had some success in early 2000s also when they drew a test series in India and also one in Australia against a great Australian side in 2001-02.
But no success against South Africa in last three decades in tests.

Yes NZL have only drawn 1 series against SA, since SA's readmission into cricket in 1992. That drawn series for NZL against SA came at home in 2004 under Stephen Fleming's captaincy. They have lost every other series they have played against SA since 1992.

 

[Heisenberg111]

Both are benefited by past results against minnow sa

They did dominate SA, when SA was a minnow, but both Australia and England have favorable records against SA in the last three decades as well, since SA's reentry into cricket in 1991.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

NZ had some success in early 2000s also when they drew a test series in India and also one in Australia against a great Australian side in 2001-02. But no success against South Africa in last three decades in tests.

Pretty sure I recall a series between NZ and South Africa ending in a draw. But again, I don't consider a drawn series to be a success. Success is defined by vanquishing your opponent. Not being at parity with him.

Regardless the NZ of 2016 was almost on the same level as South Africa. At home they should have won. The NZ of today is comfortably a far superior side

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

NZ had some success in early 2000s also when they drew a test series in India and also one in Australia against a great Australian side in 2001-02. But no success against South Africa in last three decades in tests.

Pretty sure I recall a series between NZ and South Africa ending in a draw. But again, I don't consider a drawn series to be a success. Success is defined by vanquishing your opponent. Not being at parity with him.

Regardless the NZ of 2016 was almost on the same level as South Africa. At home they should have won. The NZ of today is comfortably a far superior side

 

[szrana007]

So Pakistan secures just their 6th test match victory over South Africa and their first series win over South Africa since 2003.

 

[Justcrazy]

Now in next 4 - 5 years , a lot of teams would smack SA , they will improve their record