The Australia national cricket team toured several British colonies in the area that is present-day South Africa between 1902 and 1903, playing in three test matches against the South Africa national cricket team. The tour was a one-month stop-off for Australia after touring England. The Australian captain was Joe Darling, while South Africa had three different captains throughout the series: Henry Taberer, Biddy Anderson and Ernest Halliwell.

The first test at the Old Wanderers was also the first match ever between the two sides. Six players made their debuts for South Africa as they forced Australia to follow-on; however, the match ended in a draw. Four days later at the same venue, Australia won the second test by 159 runs off the back of a Warwick Armstrong century and a seven-wicket haul in the second innings from Jack Saunders. The final test was played at the Newlands Cricket Ground, where Australia cruised to a ten wicket victory.Roy Webber, The Playfair Book of Cricket Records, Playfair Books, 1951. Australian player Clem Hill was the leading run scorer of the series with 327 runs while South African, Charlie Llewellyn was the leading wicket taker with 25 wickets.

Test series summary Australia won the Test series 2–0 with one match drawn.

Match length: 3 days (excluding Sundays). Balls per over: 6.

First Test

Second Test

Third Test

Tour matches No. Date Opponents Result Batting first Batting second Venue Ref 1 SOUTH AFRICA(1st Test) Match drawn South Africa454 (95 overs) &101/4 (32 overs) Australia296 (51 overs) &372/7d (f/o) (78 overs) Old Wanderers, Johannesburg South Africa v Australia (1st Test), 1902/03 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 4 September 2017. XV of Transvaal Match drawn Transvaal462 (91.4 overs) &201/8d (56 overs) Australians392 (59.2 overs) &158/3 (26 overs) Old Wanderers, Johannesburg Transvaal v Australians, 1902/03 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 4 September 2017. 2 SOUTH AFRICA (2nd Test) Australians won by 159 runs Australia175 (55.1 overs) &309 (81.4 overs) South Africa240 (53 overs) &85 (22 overs) Old Wanderers, Johannesburg South Africa v Australia (2nd Test), 1902/03 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 4 September 2017. XV of Natal Match drawn Australians268 (71.2 overs) &203/6d (37 overs) Natal206 (75 overs) &69/6 (42 overs) Lord's, Durban Natal v Australians, 1902/03 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 4 September 2017. 3 Western Province Australians won by 282 runs Australians172 (42.1 overs) &274 (58 overs) Western Province84 (22.4 overs) &80 (28.5 overs) Newlands, Cape Town Western Province v Australians, 1902/03 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 4 September 2017. 4 SOUTH AFRICA (3rd Test) Australia won by 10 wickets Australia252 (70.5 overs) &59/0 (9.5 overs) South Africa85 (33.2 overs) &225 (f/o) (63.1 overs) Newlands, Cape Town South Africa v Australia (3rd Test), 1902/03 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 4 September 2017.

References

External links Australia in South Africa, 1902–03 at Cricinfo Australia in South Africa 1902/03 at CricketArchive Australia to England 1902 at Test Cricket Tours Wisden Online 1904

Annual reviews Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 1904

Further reading Bill Frindall, The Wisden Book of Test Cricket 1877–1978, Wisden, 1979