England vs South Africa head to head stands at 66 Test wins to 35 for England, with 55 draws, while South Africa lead 37 to 31 in ODIs and 14 to 13 in T20Is.
The rivalry resumes with a three-Test series from 17 December 2026 at the Wanderers, followed by three ODIs from 10 January 2027, wrapping up on 15 January.
Here is every record, venue stat, series result and key player fans need before the first ball is bowled.
England vs South Africa Head to Head: Overall Record in All Formats
England dominate the longer format, but the white-ball record leans towards the Proteas. Here is the full picture across Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
| Format | Matches | England Won | South Africa Won | Draw / Tie / No Result | First Meeting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 156 | 66 | 35 | 55 draws | March 1889 |
| ODI | 74 | 31 | 37 | 1 tie, 5 no results | March 1992 |
| T20I | 28 | 13 | 14 | 1 no result | September 2007 |
England vs South Africa Test Head to Head Record
The Test rivalry is one of the oldest in cricket. The first match was played in March 1889 and the most recent in September 2022.
England have won 66 of 156 Tests, nearly double South Africa’s 35. A big chunk of the rest, 55 matches, ended in draws.
Home and Away Test Record
| Where Played | Matches | England Won | South Africa Won | Drawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In England | 71 | 32 | 15 | 24 |
| In South Africa | 85 | 34 | 20 | 31 |
| Total | 156 | 66 | 35 | 55 |
England have actually won more Tests in South Africa (34) than at home (32). The Proteas have had a harder time winning on home soil, with draws common on slow, flat pitches.
Recent Test Series Results
| Series | Host | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | England | England won 2-1 |
| 1999/2000 | South Africa | South Africa won 2-1 |
| 2004/05 | South Africa | England won 2-1 |
| 2008 | England | South Africa won 2-1 |
| 2009/10 | South Africa | Drawn 1-1 |
| 2012 | England | South Africa won 2-0 |
| 2015/16 | South Africa | England won 2-1 |
| 2017 | England | England won 3-1 |
| 2019/20 | South Africa | England won 3-1 |
| 2022 | England | South Africa won 2-1 |
England won the 2019/20 series 3-1 after trailing 1-0. South Africa’s last series win over England came in 2022 in England.
England vs South Africa ODI Head to Head Record
South Africa lead the ODI rivalry 37 to 31 across 74 matches. The first meeting was at the 1992 World Cup in Sydney, where England won by 19 runs.
Five matches have ended without a result and one was tied. The September 2025 series in England produced two very different extremes.
Recent ENG vs SA ODI Results
| Date | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Sep 2025 | 3rd ODI, Southampton | England won by 342 runs |
| 4 Sep 2025 | 2nd ODI | South Africa won by 5 runs |
| 2 Sep 2025 | 1st ODI | South Africa won by 7 wickets |
| 1 Mar 2025 | Champions Trophy, Karachi | South Africa won by 7 wickets |
| 21 Oct 2023 | World Cup, Mumbai | South Africa won by 229 runs |
| 1 Feb 2023 | 3rd ODI | England won by 59 runs |
ENG vs SA in ICC World Cups
England and South Africa have met eight times at the ODI World Cup, and the record is level at 4-4. The Proteas’ 399/7 at the Wankhede in 2023 remains their highest ODI total against England.
England vs South Africa T20I Head to Head Record
South Africa lead the T20I rivalry 14 to 13 from 28 meetings, with one washout. It is the closest of the three formats.
Recent ENG vs SA T20I Results
| Date | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Sep 2025 | Manchester | England won by 146 runs |
| 10 Sep 2025 | Cardiff | South Africa won by 14 runs (DLS) |
| 21 Jun 2024 | Gros Islet (T20 World Cup) | South Africa won by 7 runs |
| 31 Jul 2022 | Southampton | South Africa won by 90 runs |
| 28 Jul 2022 | Cardiff | South Africa won by 58 runs |
| 27 Jul 2022 | Bristol | England won by 41 runs |
South Africa have won most of the Men’s T20 World Cup meetings, including the 2021 clash at Sharjah and the 2024 Super Eight match.
ENG vs SA Highest Totals and Key Records
| Record | Detail |
|---|---|
| Highest ODI total | England 414/5 at Southampton, September 2025 |
| Highest ODI total by South Africa | 399/7 at Mumbai, October 2023 |
| Lowest ODI total | South Africa 72, September 2025 |
| Highest T20I total | England 304/2 at Old Trafford, September 2025 |
| Most T20I runs vs SA | Jos Buttler, 606 |
| Most T20I wickets vs SA | Chris Jordan, 17 |
England’s 304/2 at Old Trafford is the highest T20I total in this rivalry. Their 342-run ODI win over South Africa a week earlier is a huge margin in this fixture.
England Tour of South Africa 2026-27: Schedule and Venues
This is the big one fans are searching for right now. The England Tour of South Africa 2026-27 runs from 17 December 2026 to 15 January 2027 and includes three Tests and three ODIs.
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | 17-21 December 2026 | Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg |
| 2nd Test | 26-30 December 2026 | SuperSport Park, Centurion |
| 3rd Test | 3-7 January 2027 | Newlands, Cape Town |
| 1st ODI | 10 January 2027 | Boland Park, Paarl |
| 2nd ODI | 13 January 2027 | Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein |
| 3rd ODI | 15 January 2027 | Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein |
The Test series is part of the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship. The planned T20I series was dropped because of a clash with the SA20 league.
The Centurion Test falls on Boxing Day and the Cape Town Test starts just after New Year, which gives the series its festive feel.
England Squad for the South Africa Tour: What to Watch
England have named a 15-man Test squad for the series. It includes Joe Root, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker and Jacob Bethell, who is back from a knee injury.
Uncapped left-arm spinner Liam Patterson-White earns his first call-up after a strong county season. It is also Stephen Fleming’s first series as England’s Test head coach.
South Africa come in as a strong home side, and reports say they have just returned to the top of the Test rankings.
ENG vs SA Rivalry: Memorable Moments
- Centurion, January 2016: South Africa won by 280 runs, a week after England won at the Wanderers by 7 wickets.
- 2019/20: England came from behind to win the Test series 3-1.
- Mumbai, 2023: South Africa smashed 399/7 and won by 229 runs at the World Cup.
- Southampton, September 2025: England posted 414/5 and bowled South Africa out for 72.
Conclusion
England vs South Africa head to head tells two stories. England own the Test rivalry with 66 wins to 35, while South Africa edge ODIs (37-31) and T20Is (14-13).
With the series starting on 17 December 2026 at the Wanderers, plus ODIs in Paarl and Bloemfontein, the numbers are open to change. Bookmark this page for updated records, scorecards and series results as the tour unfolds.
FAQs
England lead with 66 wins to 35 from 156 Tests, with 55 draws.
South Africa lead 37 to 31 across 74 ODIs.
South Africa lead 14 to 13 from 28 matches, with one no result.
The first Test starts on 17 December 2026 at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.
Three, on 10, 13 and 15 January 2027.
No, it was removed due to the SA20 clash.
