When was the first test on the England Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team Timeline?
The earliest match in the England cricket team vs South Africa national cricket team timeline was played in 1889. It was not until the tail end of the 19th century when an English cricket team first visited South Africa. The visiting team, with retired British Army officer Major R. G Warton managing, was not necessarily the English national team. It however had some of the best players from England. Major Warton was at the time a member of the Western Province Cricket Club. It is the local cricket enthusiasts invited his assembled English team to South Africa. It included Players like Bobby Abel, Harry Wood, George Uylett and Johny Briggs. Cricket authorities did not consider the matches played as test matches at first. However, two of these photos were retroactively upgraded to test status. And thus, the England cricket team vs South Africa national cricket team timeline was born.
The First Matchup in England
Before 1907, all the England vs South Africa matches happened South Africa. It was only in 1907 that the first of the tests happened at Lord’s. England elected to bat first, and scored 428. The likes of Len Braund scored 104, with Gilbert Jessop also contributing 93. For south Africa, Vogler took 7 wickets. However, England bowled out South Africa for 140 in the first inning. South African Percy Sherwell scored 115 not out in the second inning. Eventually, South Africa managed to hold on for a draw. The match ended 185/3 in the second inning.
Shifting Powers
The period between the 1920s and 1960s saw a lot of global conflict. During the pre, post and interwar periods, though, test cricket went on. For the England cricket team vs South Africa national cricket team timeline, this was a period of shifting powers. England remained a tough opponent, especially when they played at the oval or at Lord’s. South Africa managed crucial victories, both at home and away in England. There was never a clear outstanding winner, and both nations competed fiercely. This era saw such players as Denis Compton, Peter May and Dudley Nourse emerge.
The 1965 Test Series
The 1965 test series was the last of the tests before the South African ban from Global cricket. The English team toured England in the second half of the season. Across the series, England ended up winning 1-0, with two matches drawn. South Africa fielded a young, improving side, with players like Graeme Pollock, Eddie Barlow and Colin Bland. The series featured some spectacular play by Graeme Pollock. This, however, proved to be one of the last times South Africa would play in decades.
1970-1991: the Cricket Ban
After decades building a reputation as a cricket performing nation, the world plunged South Africa into a 21-year ban. The ban ran from 1970 to 1991, with agreements like the 1977 Gleneagles Agreement forbidding teams from playing them. Great South African players like Graham Pollock, widely seen as the best batsman at the time, could no longer play. For the two decades, South Africa did not actively participate in notable international cricket tournaments or tests. Several countries and teams defied the ban, though, conducting what would later be known as the rebel tours.
Why was South Africa Banned?
The South African cricket ban was the result of the government’s racial segregation policy, apartheid. At the center of the ban was what was referred to then as the “D’Oliveira affair”. Basil D’Oliveira, a South African-born English cricketer of mixed race, did not feature in the team to face South Africa. Basil was a talented all-rounder for England, and many believed his omission was for political reasons. As a cricketer of mixed race, the belief was that his omission was because of his skin color. This triggered a political storm, and a chain of events that then led to South Africa’s sporting isolation. The D’Oliveira affair triggered condemnation, with many organizations and countries severing sporting ties with South Africa.
What Happened During the Ban?
The exclusion of South Africa from international cricket was to last until they could get rid of the Apartheid regime. Even then, this did not necessarily lead to a complete South African exclusion from cricket. Instead, several nations, including Sri Lanka, Australia and West Indies, defied this ban and toured South Africa. The most notable of nations to tour, though, was England. In what the world would later describe as the rebel tours, England ended up touring South Africa several times. This became one of the more controversial installments into the England cricket team vs South Africa national cricket team timeline.
The very first rebel tour saw 12 cricketers visit South Africa. The ‘dirty dozen’ went on a month-long tour of South Africa. The publicization of the tour led to condemnation across the world, and even by their own parliament. The 12 essentially contravened the commonwealth’s 1977 Gleneagles Agreement. The Gleneagles Agreement focused on preventing sporting contact with the apartheid regime. Some parliamentarians believed this would jeopardize the country’s place internationally, not only in test cricket but also in the commonwealth. However, conservatives in England saw nothing wrong with the move. The players themselves said they simply saw it as an offer to play cricket.
Why did the Rebel Tours Happen?
One can only speculate why these countries decided to tour South Africa despite the apartheid ban. The tours were a huge risk, especially for England, and ended up being a part of emergency parliamentary debates. While the motivations remain unclear officially, it is not difficult to draw conclusions why they happened. In truth, this was a financial decision more than any other. The South African authorities offered close to what translated to £45,000 for several weeks-worth of effort. Before then, they would earn about £200 per test. This ended up being the proverbial tipping point for the players.
Mike Gatting and the Disgraced Rebels
Many believe the last of these tours, in 1990, was the most reprehensible of all. Mike Gatting captained the final group, and was therefore the focal point of the tour. Gatting had a lot to prove at the time. The tour came after he lost the England captaincy, with efforts to reinstate him being vetoed in 1989. It is also important to note that it was the apartheid regime rather than corporate sponsors that paid the players. This was during a period of change and political advocacy for South Africa as a country. This was also one of the few tours interrupted by demonstrators. Eventually, the toppling of the apartheid regime saw the cricket world lift the ban. This remains one of the darkest periods in the England cricket team vs South Africa national cricket team timeline.
The 1990s: Rebirth of a Rivalry
England was one of the countries that risked its reputation to remain in South Africa’s corner. Naturally, South Africa felt that it had to return the favor. In the years that followed, the rivalry started off from where it left off. The 1990s saw some iconic matchups between the two countries. Soon after the ban came the 1992 world cup, where the two countries once again gave fans a memorable matchup. The two teams met in the semi-final of the cricket world cup a match now known as the silly semi-final.
What happened in the Silly semi-final?
Apart from the rebel tours, none will perhaps get to the notoriety and impact that of the 1992 semi-final. One should note that this was a world cup that had its fair share of innovations. This was, for instance, the first time that teams used colored clothing. It was also the first world cup to use white balls, and the first to introduce floodlights. This world cup also saw the introduction of the rain rule, which the ICC later discredited. It is the rain rule that was at the center of the 1992 semi-final controversy between South Africa and England.
The main idea behind the rule was to avoid the old system that heavily disadvantaged the side that batted first. With South Africa needing 47 with five overs remaining, the rain grew heavier and the game had to be stopped. When the game resumed, 12 minutes had been lost, which triggered the controversial rule. The rule ended up costing South Africa, with England declared winners. Cricket authorities eventually removed the rain rule, replacing it with the Duckworth-Lewis system, mostly thanks to the 1992 farce.
Other World Cup Clashes
World cups are the biggest cricketing arena, the perfect stage for the England vs South Africa Rivalry. The England cricket team vs South Africa national cricket team timeline is full of many a world cup match. After the 1992 semi-final, the two countries next met in 1997, where South Africa defeated England by 9 wickets. The next meeting was in 2019, where England beat South Africa in the opening match at the oval. England went on to win their home tournament. In 2023, South Africa exacted revenge, putting England to shame with a huge 229-run win in Mumbai. This became one of the biggest win margins in the England cricket team vs South Africa national cricket team timeline.
Test Series and ODI Balance
Test series between these two countries also delivered drama over the years. England has however been more dominant in this version. The 2003-2004 tour, for instance, saw a Michael Vaughan inspired England win 2-1. England also ended up winning 2-1 away in South Africa in the 2015-16 tour. The same trend happened in the 2019-20 tour, which England again won 3-1. South Africa has however been dominant in the shorter ODI versions. In the ICC Champions trophy, South Africa cruised to the semi-finals following a seven-wicket win.
What is the Head-to Head Record?
England heavily dominates the test-match head-to-head record between the two countries. Out of the 156 times the two have met in test matches, England have 66 wins. South Africa have only 35 wins, with 55 ending in a draw. In the ODI format, there have been 71 matches between the two countries. South Africa dominates here, marginally, winning to 35 to England’s 30, with one match ending in a draw. In the T20 format, there have been 26 games, 13 of which went to South Africa and 12 to England. 1 match between the two ended without a result. At the ICC champions trophy, England have 2 wins, with South Africa winning 3.
Looking Forward
These are two countries with a strong cricket history, both individually and against each other. It is a cricketing relationship that is decades old. South Africa and England have had both iconic and controversial matches in the global arena. There is still a lot of cricket remaining in the final quarter of the year. England look forward to the Ashes against Australia, a wounded but capable side. South Africa, on the other hand, are on the rise after winning their first major trophy. South Africa head on to their matches with Australia, and eventually to a tour of Pakistan. With the World Test Championships title in the bag, South Africa are no longer the cricket chokers. Here’s to another decade of interesting matches between these two Cricket powerhouses. Hopefully none will be as controversial as the rebel tours or the 1992 semi-final.
FAQs:
Q1. Which global titles do the two countries have?
South Africa currently holds the World Test Championships trophy, while England are a former world champion, an ICC Champions Trophy and the T20 World Cup.
Q2. When is the last time the two countries met?
The last time the two met was in the ICC champions trophy, where South Africa eliminated England from the tournament, giving them their third loss.
3. Where are the two countries ranked?
South Africa is 2nd in the ICC test rankings, with England 3rd. In the ODI rankings, South Africa is 6th, with England 8th. In the T20 rankings, England are 3rd, with South Africa 5th.
