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Top 5 Best South Africa Tests since 2000 | Best South Africa Test matches since 2000 | SA Cricket best Test matches
South African cricket has been blessed with wonderful teams over the past two decades. Reaching the peak of their powers in the mid-2000s through to the late 2010s, the Proteas had a batting lineup and pace attack that was the envy of many sides around the globe.
So, when the Proteas came up against other superb teams, you knew that it was going to make for a wonderful contest. Here, we look at South Africa’s best Tests since 2000; matches that saw great achievements or recoveries from positions of distress.
5. England vs South Africa, 3rd Test, Edgbaston 2008
The ‘sight screen’ Test.
In 2008, South Africa locked horns with a formidable England side. This England side was tough to beat, with the likes of Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Michael Vaughan, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Andrew Flintoff and Jimmy Anderson.
With England 1-0 down after two Tests, skipper Michael Vaughan happily won the toss and opted to bat first at Edgbaston in the absence of Dale Steyn. However, Jacques Kallis and Andre Nel led the way, knocking England over for just 231.
But, the biggest challenge was yet to come. The challenge of Freddie Flintoff.
Freddie bowled with a lot of aggression. The ball moving in both directions in the air and off the wicket. Plus, he had the support of 25,000 Englishmen. There can be no doubt about the quality of Flintoff as a fast bowler, but what the scorecards won’t tell you was the ‘dark patch’ of seating above the sightscreen at the Pavilion End.
The likes of McKenzie, Kallis and Boucher ducked or turned away from full length deliveries having not seen the ball out of Freddie’s hand. Life was difficult, particularly given that nothing was done about it.
In the end, some decent contributions from a handful of players saw the Proteas wriggle their way to 314 – a lead of 83. England’s top order then struggled, but Kevin Pietersen (94) and Paul Collingwood (135) put England in with a great chance of winning, setting a target of 281.
The tough ask
Such a target in the final innings of a Test match is always a tough ask, regardless of the opposition.
- Scores of 150+ had only twice previously been successfully chased down at Edgbaston.
- Highest successful run chase at Headingley up until that game was 211.
- Flintoff and Anderson were in fine touch, with the added obstacle of the ‘dark area’.
So, someone would have to play ‘that innings’. Optimism grew as South Africa got off to the perfect start; 65-0, with many fans and pundits upset that Flintoff hadn’t been given the new ball. But, when he got his chance, he made an immediate impact. Neil Mackenzie was plumb LBW after struggling to sight the ball. Hashim Amla then copped a tough LBW decision from Aleem Dar.
78/2, the stadium was rocking and England were right back in the Test.
As the entire atmosphere seemed to have descended on Freddie and Kallis, the Test match and series almost seemed irrelevant. Could Kallis survive? After facing six deliveries, Freddie steamed in and delivered a knee-high full toss, something that Kallis (under normal circumstances) would dispatch to the boundary in his sleep. He, like McKenzie, did not pick it up, ducking the delivery taking the ball to his body. Another plumb LBW as a result of the ‘dark area’. So, surely the English were well on their way to a famous victory.
Or were they?
Cometh the hour cometh the man. Graeme Smith played what I believe was the innings of his career, finishing on 154* off 246 deliveries. Mark Boucher, with 45*, provided great support. The Proteas won by five wickets, but it far closer than that as only Morkel, Harris, Nel and Ntini were left to bat.
This effort remains the highest successful run chase at Edgbaston to this day. South Africa went on to win the series 2-1. What a Test match.
4. India vs South Africa – 1st Test, Wankhede Stadium Mumbai 2000
Success in India.
A lot is spoken about the Proteas side from 2008 through to 2018, and rightly so. Having said that, I don’t think the Proteas side from the late 90’s and early 2000’s really get the credit they deserve. They remain the only South African side to win a Test series in India – a feat that not many have accomplished.
It was in February of 2000 that the South Aficans took off to take on mighty India.
- The South Africans were led by the gritty Hansie Cronje. Senior players Gary Kirsten, Lance Klusener and Allan Donald were key.
- At the time, the likes of Gibbs (25), Kallis (24), Pollock (26) and Boucher (23) were not the players we know them to be today.
- They undoubtedly had plenty of talent, but were not necessarily regarded as elites just yet.
South Africa restricted India to 225 in the opening Test, with Tendulkar striking 97 on a deteriorating wicket. The Proteas, after feeling good at the innings break, were all of a sudden 100-7 in 45 overs. South Africa finished all out for 176. India led by 50 runs on a crumbling wicket against a South African middle order that couldn’t face spin. Trouble.
Going into the 3rd innings of the game, I believe Sachin would have told his troops that a lead of 200 would be sufficient to win the game. On that notion, India simply needed 150 runs in their 2nd innings to ensure probable victory.
Proteas then storm back
What happened next was something that no one could have really predicted. Cronje stuck to what he knew best. The seamers bowled all the overs, and obliterated the Indian batsmen. Shaun Pollock, with 4-24, changed the game. Cronje (3-23) and Donald (2-23) also delivered. South Africa were set 163 with plenty of time left, after India were out for 113 in about half a day.
With the draw out of the picture, Kirsten and Gibbs then gave the Proteas a promising start. But, it didn’t take Tendulkar too long to toss the ball to Kumble, who would then effectively bowl half of India’s overs. He was effective immediately, dismissing Kirsten and Gibbs.
However, South Africa were 2-76 and still in control. With Kallis and Cronje at the crease, I think it would be fair to assume that the South Africans were quietly confident. However, Cronje was run out in the 4th innings – a cardinal sin in Test cricket.
It went pear-shaped for a period thereafter, with the Indian spinners making light work of Pieter Strydom, Lance Klusener, and Shaun Pollock. South Arica were 128-6, still 35 runs behind with a 23-year old Boucher and 24-year old Kallis at the crease facing Anil Kumble and Murali Kartik. Problems.
The game plan clearly became for Kallis to ‘survive’ while Boucher knocked off the last 30 odd runs. Kallis, as he has always been, remained rock solid from his end, finishing the innings on 36* off 129 deliveries. Boucher scored a quickfire 27 off 32 balls to share in South Africa’s most important 36-run partnership in recent history.
South Africa went on to win the Test series 2-0. A superb achievement.
3. South Africa vs Australia – 1st Test, Newlands Cape Town 2011
The quick turnaround.
The rivalry between South Africa and Australia since readmission up until 2011 had been ‘asymmetrical’ to put it lightly. In the previous 10 series, South Africa managed just the one win (2008/09), while Australia won seven, with two draws. In the last 30 test matches played up until this series, the Proteas had beaten Australia in just seven.
However, 2011 was different. There was a sense that the tide could finally turn in the Proteas’ favour.
- The Aussies had said goodbye to the likes of Hayden, Langer, Martyn, Gilchrist, Warne, McGrath, Gillespie and Lee.
- New era beginning under the leadership of Michael Clarke.
- The South Africans on the other hand had players like Dale Steyn, Morne Morke, Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers who had really ‘come of age’ under the leadership and guidance of key figureheads like Smith, Kallis and Boucher.
However, the South African side was not without holes. Graeme Smith was still looking for an opening partner, a number six, an opening bowler and a frontline spinner. Jacques Rudolph and Ashwell Prince would open and bat at six respectively. Also, debuts were awarded to Vernon Philander and Imran Tahir to occupy the new ball and front-line spinner positions.
Smith, against expectations, chose to bowl. He tossed Dale Steyn the new cherry and Dale did what he does best. He bowled with venom, and Australia found themselves 6 down with 163 on the board. Three for Steyn, two for Morne and one for Big Vern. But, in true Australian fashion, Mr Captain Fantastic Michael Clarke hit a run-a-ball 150, seemingly batting on a different wicket to everyone else.
It was truly magnificent to watch two evenly sides having a go at one another and the ebb-and-flow between the sides gave it an almost Hollywood drama-like appeal. Australia were eventually bundled out for 284 before lunch on day two, and although there was something in the wicket for the quicks, I believe that Smith would have been the happier of the two skippers at that point.
Unimaginable drama for South Africa and Australia
However, after a decent start by the openers, the next three hours brought unimaginable drama from a Proteas perspective. Ryan Harris took 3-44 and Shane Watson claimed five wickets in as many overs to bundle South Africa for 96, with the last seven wickets falling for 23 runs. In a two-game series, did this mean that South Africa’s chances of a series victory were over?
But true to the rivalry that exists between these two sports-loving nations, the game was far from over. What happened next was then unthinkable from an Australian perspective. 11 overs into Australia’s second innings, Australia were on the brink of achieving the lowest ever Test score, sitting at 9-21. Vernon Philander, on his debut, had obliterated the Australians with his beautiful movement. The ball moved away, then in, and then back away. Watson, Clarke, Ponting, and Hussey dropped like flies and thanks to a handy 14 runs from Nathan Lyon, Australia were bowled out for 47, their 4th lowest total in over 120 years of Test cricket.
An interesting dynamic was at play at this point. Australia had been humiliated but at the same time were still a good chance of winning heading into the final innings. South Africa needed 235 to win, which might not be a world record chase, but after the 2nd and 3rd innings totals of 96 and 47 respectively, it must have seemed like a mountain of runs to the South Africans.
I remember thinking ‘if they can just survive 100 overs, they should get the required 236 runs, they need to bat for just over 3 sessions and they can win’. I had the wrong mindset. It was not the time to sit back and allow the Aussies to bowl at the South Africans. The best defense is a good offense, and Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla proved so throughout the final innings. Smith finished on 101* (140) and Hashim Amla on 112* (134), taking a liking to Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris, Australia’s best quicks at the time.
South Africa reached the required 236 runs in just 50 overs, batting at 4.68 to the over with eight wickets in hand. A comfortable victory in the end to complete a remarkable turnaround.
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2. Australia vs South Africa – 2nd Test, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide 2012
Mission impossible
The last three series between South Africa and Australia leading into this one had yielded an away win for South Africa, an away win for Australia and a 1-1 draw in South Africa. The scene was set for another thrilling series and it did not disappoint.
The 1st Test was a draw, but the Aussies were the far more convincing side in the game. The South African bowlers lacked any real potency, having opted to go with four right arm fast bowlers in Steyn, Philander, Morkel and Kleinveldt at the expense of the Imran Tahir.
Leading into the 2nd Test, Philander had injured his back in and Kleinveldt retained his place in the side. Tahir joined the playing XI, but had a shocker, returning match figures of 0-260 in 37 overs. An economy rate of 7.03 in a Test match. Carnage.
Clarke had been magnificent all series and the Aussies were all out for 550 (in just 107 overs) in Adelaide. South Africa then batted bravely. Greame Smith came to the party when he was most needed with a spectacular 122 with Petersen, Kallis and the debutant Faf du Plessis (in for the injured JP Duminy) all contributing with 50s.
However, the deficit stood at 162 at Tea on day three with the Aussies smelling blood.
With the memory of the 2008/09 series in the back of their minds, there was no way the Australians would set the South Africans a target of anything less than 400. With their lead of 162 from their 1st innings, I expected the Aussies to come out guns blazing looking to put on another 250 fairly quickly. Their 2nd innings was more patient and technically precise than their 1st, as the Aussies made their way to a total of 267/8 in 70 overs by the 2nd session on day 4 leaving the Proteas a target of 430 and with about a day and a half to get it.
Quest to keep the series alive
The South Africans would have backed themselves going into the final innings but with an injured Jacques Kallis, and young debutant Faf du Plessis, the draw seemed a more realistic option. South Africa would need to bat for 150 overs to draw the Test match.
By over 20, it was pretty much all over. South Africa had lost its top four (Smith, Petersen, Amla and Rudolph) for just 45 runs. The Aussies needed just six wickets in 130 overs with AB de Villiers at the crease, partnered by Faf du Plessis with only an injured Kallis to come.
But, de Villiers and du Plessis had other ideas, facing a whopping 596 deliveries between them. AB de Villiers played out 220 balls for 33 runs, showcasing his incredible ability to switch focus across situations and formats. After de Villiers was out, Australia had a big sniff, but Faf du Plessis held firm on his way to an unbeaten 376-ball 110 to guide his country to their most famous draw in recent memory.
South Africa went on to win the final test by 309 runs and recorded their 2nd consecutive test series win in Australia. A special effort.
1. Australia vs South Africa – 1st Test, WACA, Perth 2008
400+? No worries.
South Africa did not have a good time of things in Australia in the few decades preceding this series. However, this Proteas side was full of talent, and were enjoying a strong year in 2008.
But, the series couldn’t have got off to a worse start for South Africa, with Ashwell Prince going down injured during the warmup. So, the South Africans were forced to introduce a 24-year-old JP Duminy into their middle order; not quite the conditions you’d like to be making your debut in.
Things quickly improved with Makhaya Ntini striking early, claiming the wickets of Hayden and Ponting. Steyn assisted with the massive scalp of Michael Hussey to leave the Australians battered and bruised ay 3-15. But, in typical Australian fashion, they not only recovered, but really took the attack to the South African change bowlers with Kallis and Morkel being uncharacteristically expensive. Clarke and Katich hit a 150-run parternship, before the deadlock was broken by Morkel. Haddin, along with the ever-frustrating Australian tail really added salt to the wound as the Australians saw themselves to an above-par 375-all out.
The South African response was exceptionally positive to begin with. Smith, Kallis and Amla and de Villiers all getting good starts without kicking on to the 3 figure mark but at 234-3, the South Africa would have felt that they were on top. In steps a young Mitchell Johnson, still relatively new to test cricket, who went on to bowl one of the most hostile spells of fast bowling I have ever seen. He intimated and bullied the South Africans with fast aggressive short pitched bowling. He claimed 8-61 that innings, including the scalps of Smith, Kallis, de Villiers, and JP Duminy.
South Africa lost their last seven wickets for 47 runs, and all hope seemed lost. They were around 100 runs behind the Aussies on the morning of the 3rd day knowing full well that they would need to chase the Aussies on day five against Mitchell Johnson on a wicket that clearly had something in it for the quicks. South Africa needed to bowl Australia out cheaply second time around, but a score of 319 meant that the South Africans were required to score 414 runs in five sessions to claim an improbable win.
The unthinkable
Everyone in the cricketing world expected the South Africans to bat for the draw given that it was only the 1st Test of the series, as well as the fact that 400+ had only been chased down three times in cricketing history (2003, 1976, 1948).
Graeme Smith, AB de Villiers and co. had other ideas.
The next 120 overs consisted of some of, if not the best batting I’ve ever seen from a South Africa top order as five of the top six went past 50. Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers scored absolutely brilliant centuries. Mitchell Johnson threw everything he had at a young de Villiers and Duminy (50 not out), but the pair managed him with a level of maturity and technical ability not seen in players with 100 test matches behind them.
Graeme Smith always said that batting partnerships of 100 or more is what wins Test matches. He and Amla shared a stand of 153. Amla and AB shared in a stand of 124, and AB and Duminy shared an unbroken stand of 111. The South Africans had done the impossible and chased down 414 against the mighty Aussies in their own back yard.
This was the turning point for South African cricket and they would enjoy a period of around 7/8 years of dominance going forward. Smith earnt his stripes as a captain. Amla, de Villiers and Dale Steyn became known around the world. It was the best match of Test cricket I’ve ever seen.
Written by Daniel Orsmond. Follow Daniel on Twitter today.
Enjoying Daniel Orsmond’s content? Check out his other articles on CricBlog!
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