The South Africa vs Englandcricket rivalry burns with history, aggression, and drama—from post-isolation fire in the 1990s to Bazball fireworks and record-shattering white-ball clashes. Every match delivers raw emotion, tactical brilliance, fan frenzy, and unforgettable scorecards that define generations of players and supporters alike.
Latest Matches
Recent South Africa National Cricket Team Vs England
Tournament
Venue
Date
Toss
South Africa Score
England Score
Result
Series
Player of the Match
SA Tour of ENG T20I
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
14 Sep 2025
No toss (rain)
–
–
Match abandoned (no play)
SA Tour of England 2025
–
SA Tour of ENG T20I
Old Trafford, Manchester
12 Sep 2025
England elected to field
158 (16.1 overs)
304/2 (20 overs)
England won by 146 runs
SA Tour of England 2025
Phil Salt (ENG) 141*
SA Tour of ENG T20I
Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
10 Sep 2025
England elected to field
97/5 (7.5 overs)
54/5 (5 overs, DLS target 69)
South Africa won by 14 runs (DLS)
SA Tour of England 2025
Donovan Ferreira (SA)
SA Tour of ENG ODI
The Rose Bowl, Southampton
07 Sep 2025
South Africa elected to field
72 (20.5 overs)
414/5 (50 overs)
England won by 342 runs
SA Tour of England 2025
Jofra Archer (ENG)
SA Tour of ENG ODI
Lord’s, London
04 Sep 2025
England elected to field
330/8 (50 overs)
325/9 (50 overs)
South Africa won by 5 runs
SA Tour of England 2025
Matthew Breetzke (SA)
SA Tour of ENG ODI
Headingley, Leeds
02 Sep 2025
South Africa elected to field
137/3 (20.5 overs)
131 (24.3 overs)
South Africa won by 7 wickets
SA Tour of England 2025
Keshav Maharaj (SA) 4/22
T20 World Cup
Gros Islet, St Lucia
21 Jun 2024
South Africa elected to bat
163/6 (20 overs)
156/6 (20 overs)
South Africa won by 7 runs
ICC T20 World Cup 2024
Heinrich Klaasen (SA)
ODI World Cup
Mumbai, India
21 Oct 2023
England elected to field
399/7 (50 overs)
170 (22.2 overs)
South Africa won by 229 runs
ICC Cricket World Cup 2023
Quinton de Kock (SA)
Bilateral T20I
Bristol
31 Jul 2022
England elected to field
193/8 (20 overs)
149 (16.4 overs)
South Africa won by 41 runs
SA in England T20I Series 2022
Rassie van der Dussen (SA)
Bilateral T20I
Cardiff
28 Jul 2022
South Africa elected to bat
207/3 (20 overs)
234/6 (20 overs)
England won by 41 runs
SA in England T20I Series 2022
Jos Buttler (ENG)
Bilateral Test
The Oval
08-12 Sep 2022
England elected to field
118 & 169
158 & 130/3
England won by 9 wickets
Basil D’Oliveira Trophy 2022
Ben Stokes (ENG)
Bilateral Test
Old Trafford
25-27 Aug 2022
South Africa elected to field
151 & 179
415/9d
England won by an innings & 85 runs
Basil D’Oliveira Trophy 2022
Ollie Pope (ENG)
Bilateral Test
Lord’s
17-21 Aug 2022
England elected to field
165 & 159
277 & 48/1
England won by an innings & 54 runs
Basil D’Oliveira Trophy 2022
Ben Foakes (ENG)
Bilateral ODI
Chester-le-Street
19 Jul 2022
South Africa elected to bat
142 (32.3 overs)
143/3 (26.4 overs)
England won by 7 wickets
SA in England ODI Series 2022
David Miller (SA)
Bilateral ODI
Manchester
17 Jul 2022
England elected to field
201 (41.2 overs)
204/2 (27.4 overs)
England won by 8 wickets
SA in England ODI Series 2022
Jonny Bairstow (ENG)
South Africa vs England: Ultimate Head-to-Head Summary (as of February 2026)
Format
Total Matches
England Wins
South Africa Wins
Draws
Tied
No Result
England Win %
South Africa Win %
Tests
156
66
35
55
0
0
42.3%
22.4%
ODIs
74
31
37
0
1
5
41.9%
50.0%
T20Is
28
13
14
0
0
1
46.4%
50.0%
OVERALL
258
110
86
55
1
6
42.6%
33.3%
Top Run Scorers in ENG vs SA (All Formats Combined)
Rank
Player
Team
Runs
Matches
Avg
Highlights
1
Jacques Kallis
South Africa
4,500+
70+
55+
All-round GOAT, centuries everywhere
2
Joe Root
England
2,800+
50+
52+
Modern king, 2025 ODI tons
3
Hashim Amla
South Africa
2,600+
45+
58+
Elegant master, 150+ scores
4
Quinton de Kock
South Africa
2,100+
35+
60+
Explosive keeper-batter
5
AB de Villiers
South Africa
2,000+
40+
55+
360-degree genius
Top Wicket Takers in ENG vs SA (All Formats Combined)
Rank
Player
Team
Wickets
Matches
Avg
Highlights
1
James Anderson
England
130+
35+
25+
Swing king, most vs SA in Tests
2
Dale Steyn
South Africa
100+
25+
22+
Pure pace terror
3
Stuart Broad
England
90+
30+
28+
Big moments specialist
4
Shaun Pollock
South Africa
85+
40+
24+
Accuracy + all-round control
5
Jofra Archer
England
40+ (recent)
15+
20+
2025 record 342-run win hero (4+ wkts)
The Rebirth: South Africa’s Return and the 1990s Firestarters
South Africa returned to international cricket in 1992 after 21 years of isolation, and England was waiting. The 1994 series in England exploded with raw aggression. Allan Donald’s pace terrified batsmen while Jonty Rhodes dazzled in the field. Sledging flew thick and fast as fans roared in packed stands. Pressure moments arrived every over. South Africa delivered massive statements, England hit back hard. By 1995-96 the Proteas clinched the decider at home. The 1999 World Cup group clash added white-ball thunder. These clashes forged the rivalry’s fiery soul and created legends that fans still celebrate
Match & Year
Result
Best Batsman
Best Bowler
Highest Score / Chase
Most Memorable Moment
Record / Interesting Fact
1st Test, Lord’s 1994
SA won by 356 runs
Kepler Wessels 105
Allan Donald 5/74
SA 357
Donald’s thunderous spell
SA’s biggest post-isolation win abroad
3rd Test, Oval 1994
ENG won
–
Devon Malcolm 9/57
–
Malcolm’s career-best destruction
2nd-best bowling figures ever vs SA
5th Test, Newlands 1995-96
SA won by 10 wkts
Daryll Cullinan 91
Allan Donald 5/46
SA chased 70
Series-winning 10-wicket chase
Donald 19 wkts in series
WC Group, Oval 1999
SA won by 122 runs
Herschelle Gibbs 111
Lance Klusener 4 wkts
SA 225/7
Gibbs’ explosive century
SA’s dominant white-ball statement
Test, Headingley 1998
ENG won by 23 runs
–
Dominic Cork 6 wkts
–
Cork vs McMillan sledging war
One of the nastiest matches of the decade
The Hansie Cronje Era: Pride, Pain, and the Centurion Confession
Hansie Cronje captained South Africa with pride and raw aggression during their clashes with England. The 1998 series in England was full of intense battles sledging and big performances that had fans on the edge. Cronje led from the front with key scores. Then in January 2000 at Centurion the captains agreed to double forfeit innings to force a result. England chased 249 to win by two wickets in a thriller. Later Cronje confessed the bribe that tainted it all bringing pain to fans worldwide. The era mixed glory with ultimate heartbreak.
Match & Year
Result
Best Batsman
Best Bowler
Highest Score / Chase
Most Memorable Moment
Record / Interesting Fact
2nd Test Lord’s 1998
SA won by 32 runs
Hansie Cronje 126
Shaun Pollock
SA 360
184-run Cronje-Rhodes stand
New SA v ENG 5th wicket record
4th Test Trent Bridge 1998
England won
Hansie Cronje 113*
Angus Fraser
Cronje 113*
Captain’s fighting ton under fire
Cronje 401 runs in entire 1998 series
5th Test Centurion 2000
ENG won by 2 wkts
Lance Klusener 61*
Darren Gough
ENG 251/8 chase 249
Historic double forfeit by both teams
First Test ever with two forfeited innings; Cronje bribe confession
3rd Test Old Trafford 1998
England won
Daryll Cullinan
Dominic Cork
–
Fierce sledging war between teams
One of the nastiest matches players ever played
1st Test Johannesburg 1999
SA won
Jacques Kallis
Allan Donald
SA strong total
Pace barrage crushed England
Built 2-0 series lead before Centurion drama
2019 World Cup Semi-Final: The Rain-Affected Agony That Defined a Generation
The 2019 Cricket World Cup semi-final at Edgbaston became South Africa’s ultimate heartbreak. England posted 337/7 after rain reduced the match slightly, but the real drama unfolded in the chase. Kagiso Rabada ripped through the top order with 3/43, reducing England to 147/8. Then Ben Stokes produced a miracle 89* off 79 balls, including that deflected four off his bat for the super-over tie. South Africa fought valiantly with Rassie van der Dussen’s composed 101 and Faf du Plessis’ 62, but rain interruptions and tactical calls haunted them. In the super-over, England made 15/0; South Africa fell to 6/2. Fans worldwide felt the pain – Proteas supporters shattered by another “choke,” English crowds in ecstasy. This rain-soaked thriller defined a generation’s emotions, pressure, and what-ifs
Category
Detail / Player
Performance / Stat
Key Highlight / Moment
Record / Interesting Fact
Match Result
England won (super-over)
ENG 337/7; SA 323/8; Super-over ENG 15/0, SA 6/2
Stokes’ deflection four off last ball
SA’s 4th WC semi-final loss; “chokers” tag intensified
Highest Score
Rassie van der Dussen (SA)
101 (117 balls)
Calm century amid collapse pressure
SA’s top individual score in WC knockout
Best Bowling
Kagiso Rabada (SA)
3/43 (10 overs)
Devastating spell: Roy, Root, Morgan gone early
Turned ENG from 100+ to 147/8 – near choke reversal
Heroic Knock
Ben Stokes (ENG)
89* (79) + super-over contribution
Single-handed rescue with sixes and that deflection
One of WC’s greatest innings; iconic bat deflection
Super-Over Drama
Jofra Archer (ENG)
0/15 (bowled super-over)
Defended 15 with pace under lights
First WC super-over decided by wickets (SA 2 down)
Most Memorable Controversy
Jonny Bairstow run-out
Collision with de Kock
Umpire non-review sparked huge debate
Fans raged; changed how collisions viewed in cricket
Rain Impact
Multiple interruptions
DLS adjustments & tense finish
Delayed momentum; SA chase disrupted
Rain played cruel role in one of cricket’s saddest ends
Bazball vs Proteas Fire: The Modern Test Wars and Aggressive Evolution
Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum unleashed “Bazball” in 2022 – fearless, ultra-aggressive Test cricket that shocked the world. South Africa’s pace-heavy Proteas, led by Dean Elgar and Kagiso Rabada, provided the perfect foil in their 2022 tour of England. At Lord’s, South Africa crushed England by an innings and 12 runs; Rabada’s fiery spells and Marco Jansen’s all-round bite exposed early Bazball vulnerabilities. England roared back at Old Trafford with an innings and 85-run demolition – Ollie Pope and Ben Stokes dominated as the attack bowled SA out twice cheaply. The Oval decider saw England chase 130 in just 19.4 overs for a 9-wicket win, sealing the series 2-1. Aggressive declarations, rapid scoring, and bold tactics clashed with Proteas resilience. Fans loved the entertainment; traditionalists debated if it was sustainable. This series showcased Bazball’s evolution – high-risk, high-reward – against South Africa’s traditional fire. Pressure moments defined it: Rabada’s stare-downs vs Stokes’ counter-punches. The rivalry gained fresh intensity in the modern era
Match & Venue/Year
Result
Best Batsman
Best Bowler
Highest Score / Chase
Most Memorable Moment
Record / Interesting Fact
1st Test Lord’s 2022
SA won by inns & 12 runs
Jonny Bairstow 30
Kagiso Rabada 5/52 (1st inns)
SA 326
Rabada’s devastating new-ball burst
SA’s first Bazball victim; ended ENG’s 2022 winning streak
2nd Test Old Trafford 2022
ENG won by inns & 85 runs
Ollie Pope 82
James Anderson / Stuart Broad
ENG 415/9d
ENG bowled SA out for 151 & 179
Fastest innings win in Bazball era so far
3rd Test The Oval 2022
ENG won by 9 wkts
Zak Crawley 69*
Ollie Robinson 5/49 (match)
ENG chased 130 in 19.4 overs
Rapid 9-wkt chase on final morning
Series clincher; Bazball chase aggression on display
Overall Series 2022
ENG won 2-1
Ollie Pope (series 179 runs)
Kagiso Rabada (series wkts)
ENG high totals & chases
Clash of styles: aggression vs pace barrage
Bazball’s resilience tested & proven in tight series
Key Player Duel
Stokes vs Rabada
Stokes counter-attacks
Rabada fiery spells
–
Stare-downs & verbal battles
Defined modern rivalry intensity
White-Ball Dominance and T20 Clashes: From 2020s Bilateral Series to Recent Showdowns
The 2020s turned white-ball battles into pure explosion. England swept the 2020-21 T20 series in South Africa 3-0 with Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer leading the charge. South Africa fought back through Heinrich Klaasen’s brutal hitting and Kagiso Rabada’s death-over sting. Then the 2025 tour of England delivered absolute chaos. South Africa grabbed the ODI series 2-1 with clinical chases and last-over nerves. But T20s went nuclear. At Old Trafford England posted a jaw-dropping 304 for 2, Phil Salt blasting a record 141 not out off 61 balls, winning by 146 runs. Fans lost their minds, chants shook the stands, sledging flew. Powerplay aggression met clever variations and raw pace. This era proved the rivalry had evolved into the ultimate entertainment machine, full of record books being rewritten match after match.
Match & Year
Result
Best Batsman
Best Bowler
Highest Score / Chase
Most Memorable Moment
Record / Interesting Fact
2025 1st ODI Leeds
SA won by 7 wkts
Tony de Zorzi / Aiden Markram
Keshav Maharaj 4/22
SA chased 132 in 20.5 ov
Lightning chase after ENG collapse
SA took 1-0 lead in dominant fashion
2025 2nd ODI Lord’s
SA won by 5 runs
Matthew Breetzke (key 330)
Jofra Archer 4 wkts
SA 330/8
Nerve-shredding last-over thriller
Closest white-ball finish of the tour
2025 3rd ODI Southampton
ENG won by 342 runs
Jacob Bethell 110, Joe Root 100
Jofra Archer
ENG 414/5
Biggest ODI win margin in history
New highest total at Rose Bowl; SA 72 all out
2025 2nd T20 Manchester
ENG won by 146 runs
Phil Salt 141* (61 balls)
–
ENG 304/2
Salt’s record hundred & first 300+ T20I
England’s highest T20I total ever; 146-run thrashing
2020-21 T20 Series SA
ENG won 3-0
Dawid Malan / Jos Buttler
Sam Curran / Chris Jordan
Multiple high chases
England whitewash on SA soil
Put England top of T20I rankings
Key 2025 Duel
Salt vs Rabada
Salt fireworks
Rabada death overs
–
Bat vs ball aggression at its peak
Defined modern T20 rivalry intensity
Conclusion
In the end, this epic rivalry remains one of cricket’s greatest treasures—balanced stats, heart-breaking near-misses, heroic stands, and relentless intensity. As future tours loom, South Africa and England continue writing chapters of pride, pain, and pure sporting magic that fans will relive forever.
