Head to head / England v South Africa
England v South Africa
109 recorded meetings in men's internationals.
Head-to-head record
All formats| Format | P | England | South Africa | T/D | NR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 31 | 14 | 11 | 6 | 0 |
| ODI | 50 | 23 | 21 | 1 | 5 |
| T20I | 28 | 13 | 14 | 0 | 1 |
Latest meetings
Runs per over- Old Trafford, Manchester, Manchester
England: runs per over South Africa: runs per over - Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, Cardiff
South Africa: runs per over England: runs per over - The Rose Bowl, Southampton, Southampton
England: runs per over South Africa: runs per over - Lord's, London, London
South Africa: runs per over England: runs per over - Headingley, Leeds, Leeds
England: runs per over South Africa: runs per over
Overview
England and South Africa have met 109 times in the recorded men's internationals. England have won 50 of those and South Africa 46; the other 13 ended tied, drawn or without a result.
England lead the series by 4 wins.
By format
In Tests the sides have met 31 times: England 14 wins, South Africa 11 wins, and 6 ties or draws.
In One Day Internationals the sides have met 50 times: England 23 wins, South Africa 21 wins, and 1 ties or draws, with 5 without a result.
In Twenty20 Internationals the sides have met 28 times: England 13 wins, South Africa 14 wins, with 1 without a result.
Meetings and extremes
The earliest recorded meeting is an odi dated 28 June 2003: England won by 6 wickets.
The most recent recorded meeting is a t20i dated 12 September 2025: England won by 146 runs.
England's highest total in these meetings is 629/6, made on 2 January 2016 at Newlands.
South Africa's highest total in these meetings is 637/2, made on 19 July 2012 at Kennington Oval.
England's widest win in the series is by 342 runs, on 7 September 2025.
South Africa's widest win in the series is by 340 runs, on 14 July 2017.
The longest unbroken run of wins is 5 by England, between 7 August 2008 and 31 August 2008.
Across all recorded innings in these meetings England average 241.5 runs and South Africa average 240.8.
In the limited-overs meetings the side batting first has won 36 and the side chasing 35.
The latest meetings, most recent first, were 12 September 2025, T20I, England won by 146 runs; 10 September 2025, T20I, South Africa won by 14 runs (D/L method); 7 September 2025, ODI, England won by 342 runs; 4 September 2025, ODI, South Africa won by 5 runs; 2 September 2025, ODI, South Africa won by 7 wickets.
Year by year
England and South Africa first meet in the records in 2003 and last in 2025. Meetings by calendar year, with wins for England and South Africa: 2003, 7 (4-2); 2005, 8 (1-5); 2007, 2 (0-2); 2008, 9 (5-2); 2009, 9 (5-3); 2010, 3 (1-1); 2011, 1 (1-0); 2012, 11 (3-5); 2013, 1 (1-0); 2014, 1 (0-1); 2015, 1 (1-0); 2016, 11 (4-6); 2017, 10 (7-3); 2019, 2 (1-1); 2020, 12 (9-2); 2021, 1 (0-1); 2022, 9 (4-4); 2023, 4 (1-3); 2024, 1 (0-1); 2025, 6 (2-4).
Leading players in these meetings
The leading run scorers across these meetings are HM Amla for South Africa (3,166 in 47 matches), GC Smith for South Africa (2,581 in 43 matches), AB de Villiers for South Africa (2,314 in 57 matches), JE Root for England (2,230 in 37 matches) and Q de Kock for South Africa (2,019 in 41 matches).
The leading wicket takers are JM Anderson for England (129 in 50 matches), SCJ Broad for England (121 in 44 matches), K Rabada for South Africa (101 in 34 matches), M Morkel for South Africa (100 in 38 matches) and DW Steyn for South Africa (60 in 30 matches).
Highest totals by format
The highest Test innings in these meetings is 637/2 by South Africa on 19 July 2012.
The highest ODI innings in these meetings is 414/5 by England on 7 September 2025.
The highest T20I innings in these meetings is 304/2 by England on 12 September 2025.
Grounds
The grounds that have hosted the most of these meetings are Newlands (12 matches), Kennington Oval, London (10 matches), SuperSport Park (9 matches) and Lord's, London (9 matches).
Reading the record
The records hold 109 meetings between England and South Africa, the first dated 28 June 2003 (ODI) and the latest 12 September 2025 (T20I). 7 of them ended tied or drawn and 6 without a result.
Questions and answers
How many times have England and South Africa played each other?
109 recorded men's internationals: England won 50 and South Africa won 46.
When did England and South Africa last meet?
In a t20i on 12 September 2025: England won by 146 runs.
What is the Test record between England and South Africa?
31 matches: England 14 wins, South Africa 11 wins.
What is the ODI record between England and South Africa?
50 matches: England 23 wins, South Africa 21 wins.