Top 5 best bowling figures in South Africa vs Australia Test series ft. Mitchell Johnson
South Africa and Australia have shared one of the most competitive rivalries in Test cricket, with their encounters producing plenty of memorable individual performances. While the two teams have featured some of the finest batters in the history of the game, bowlers have often played an equally important role in deciding the outcome of their Test matches.
Several bowlers have produced remarkable match-winning spells against the other side, with some dominating across both innings to finish with extraordinary wicket hauls. Here is a look at the top five best bowling figures in South Africa vs Australia Test history.
Top 5 best bowling figures in South Africa vs Australia Tests
1. Clarrie Grimmett (Australia) – 14/199
Clarrie Grimmett produced the best bowling performance in South Africa vs Australia Test history during the fourth Test at Adelaide in January 1932. The Australian leg-spinner delivered an extraordinary effort across both innings, bowling 96.2 overs in a marathon display of accuracy and control. Grimmett claimed 7/116 in South Africa’s first innings before returning to take another seven wickets for 83 runs in the second.
His deceptive flippers and relentless accuracy made it extremely difficult for the South African batters to build partnerships, while his economy rate of 2.06 highlighted just how effectively he controlled the game. His combined haul of 14 wickets remains the benchmark for bowling performances in this historic Test rivalry.
2. Hugh Tayfield (South Africa) – 13/165
Hugh Tayfield produced one of the greatest bowling performances by a South African in the Christmas Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1952. The off-spinner played a central role in a famous 82-run victory, breaking down Australia’s batting resistance through two demanding innings. Tayfield first claimed 7/81 before returning in the second innings to take 6/84.
He bowled 66.5 eight-ball overs during the match and maintained an outstanding economy rate of 1.85. His ability to bowl long spells while maintaining pressure proved crucial as South Africa completed an unexpected victory over the hosts. The performance remains one of the finest examples of South African spin bowling in the rivalry.
3. Clarrie Grimmett (Australia) – 13/173
Grimmett featured again among the best bowling performances when Australia faced South Africa at Kingsmead in Durban during the 1935/36 series. Four years after his extraordinary Adelaide performance, the leg-spinner once again dominated the hosts across both innings. He picked up 7/100 in the first innings and followed it with 6/73 in the second, finishing with 13 wickets for 173 runs.
Grimmett bowled 93 overs in total, including 41 maidens, leaving the South African batting lineup with very little room to score freely. His remarkable spell helped Australia secure a comprehensive innings victory and further cemented his status as one of the most influential bowlers in the early history of this rivalry.
4. Mitchell Johnson (Australia) – 12/127
Mitchell Johnson produced the most devastating fast-bowling performance on this list during the first Test at Centurion in February 2014. The left-arm quick unleashed a fierce spell of hostile pace against a formidable South African batting lineup. Johnson claimed 7/68 in the first innings before returning to take 5/59 in the second.
He needed only 33.1 overs to complete his 12-wicket match haul, striking once every 16 balls. His short-pitched bowling created enormous pressure on the South African batters and helped Australia take control of the Test. Johnson’s performance stands out among the spin-dominated entries on this list as the only fast-bowling display to feature in the top five.
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5. Shane Warne (Australia) – 12/128
Shane Warne produced another iconic performance in the New Year’s Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1994. The legendary leg-spinner took advantage of a turning surface to trouble the South African batting lineup throughout the match. Warne claimed 5/56 in the first innings to put Australia in a strong position before producing an even more decisive spell in the second innings.
He finished with 7/72 as the pitch deteriorated and his variations became increasingly difficult for the South African batters to handle. The Australian spinner bowled 69 overs across the match and maintained an economy rate of 1.85. His 12-wicket haul helped Australia secure a memorable victory and added another outstanding performance to his legendary Test career.
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