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South Africa and Australia are set to lock horns in the final of the World Test Championship at the iconic Lords Cricket Ground from June 11 to 15. Where it comes to the highest team totals that have been posted by the two, then Australia and South Africa have, in combined, score 600 plus team totals on 5 different occasions. And somehwere, if you were to cast a close eye on their scoring, you'd realise that in so doing, the South Africans remain, a touch ahead of their prominent batting display, scoring more 600 plus totals than the mighty Aussies.
Together, Australia and South Africa are also responsible for scoring as many as 19- 500+ run team scores, of which the Proteas have on 5 occasions gone beyond 500 runs in a single team total, whilst the Australians have done so on 14 occasions.
But today, let us find out that when the two mighty outfits of international cricket have locked horns against one other, then what have been the highest ever test team totals by them?
List of highest Test totals between South Africa and Australia:
Australia: 652 in Johannesburg, 2002
The Aussies on that occasion scored a mammoth score of 652 against familiar rivals, South Africa. The 652 made 23 years back in the day and that too, miles away from Australian territory, remains their highest-ever test tally against the Proteas and it was all thanks to superb batting by the likes of Damien Martyn, Adam Gilchrist, 204 on that occasion, and Matt Hayden at the top scoring 122. The bowling they were up against was never easy, featuring greats like Allan Donand and Jacques Kallis and then, there was also the intimidating Andre Nel.
But familiar Aussie grit was on full display at the Johannesburg arena. This would be a contest they'd win by an inning and 360 runs. Massive achievement back then, well, even today.
South Africa: 651, Cape Town, 2009
The Proteas won a significant contest back in 2009, which now if you think about it, came a little over a decade and a half. A 651 run total even back then was considered a humungous feat, wasn't it?
This was a time where the Aussies had a line up featuring- Clarke, Haddin, Ponting, Hussey and even Phil Hughes. The bowlers were spirited by the presence of Mitch Johnson, then among the quickest of the day.
Yet, nothing mattered to South Africa who scored 3 tons during their first innning outing with the bat that led to 651 runs. Ashwell Prince hung in for his 150, so did Kallis with a typically gritty 102 and then a certain AB de Villiers zeroed in at the crease scoring 163 great runs.
The Aussies fought back true to their aggressive nature and Johnson, best known for his explosive left arm bowling made a century. Let that sink in. But back then, Paul Harris, just 37 Test matches, was at his best, in taking 6 wickets.
Eventually, the Proteas won by an inning and 20 runs.
Australia: 628 in Johannesburg, 1997
The Aussies won an incredible test match plaing at Johannesburg back in the year 1997, wherein they'd make lightwork of the dominant Proteas attack, scoring 628. Back in the late ninetis, such a team total was as rare an occurrence as a rainbow emerging from the ocean.
This game will forever be remembere for Greg Blewett's dashing and stylish 214 and for a young Steve Waugh's 160. This came against the trinity of Klusener, Donald, then, very much a white lightening cricketer, and Paul Adams. There was also Shaun Pollock in the team but it was Australia's time to shine in South Africa.
The Aussies batted in the second inning of the game and came up with a 326-run lead that would always put them into the driver's seat to win and so they did in the end, winning by an inning and 196 runs. Warne and Bevan took 8 wickets between them, four apiece, when it most mattered.
South Africa: 622 in Durban, 1970
Four years after scoring for the first time ever a 600-run test team total, the South Africans not just repeated their jubilant Johannesburg score but even went two runs further in 1970's Durban Test.
They made a huge team score of 622, that was rather unheard of especially in those days. But on their part, the team sported a slightly different look; while the greats like Ali Bacher, an icon of South African cricket remained in the team as captain, there were some great new additions like: Sir Barry Richards.
Batting first on a batting friendly surface, Sir Richards made a career-best score of his in this game, making 140 on his own. That was a fifth of his entire team's run tally in the first inning. It's painful to note that all he'd end up playing would be just 4 Test matches and that's about it.
However, the lion's size of run scoring was done by sir Graeme who made a fluent and remarkable 401-ball-274, his best ever Test match score.
Those who saw him bat confessed at having seen the best in the business.
The Australian team, on the other hand, featured greats like Sir Ian Chappell, Bill Lawry being very much there up top, Dough Walters and Ian Redpath in the middle order. But the team crumbled in pressure making 157 in their first outing. The Proteas piled up more pressure again by asking Australia to follow on and while only Dough Walters and Ian Redpath (66 Tests for Australia) were able to mount some challenge with the bat, the team folded for 336.
The Proteas won big.
South Africa: 620 in Johannesburg, 1966
For starters, what's important to remember over here is that, between themselves, South Africa and Australia have posted no fewer than 5 Test team totals that are in excess of 600, in fact, five such totals that measure north of 620 runs, at the very least.
Now, what's rather incredible is the fact that, of these, South Africa have not less than thrice, scored in excess of 620 run team totals, which is one more than Australia's team tally coming to international five day cricket.
But on this occasion, and rather understandably so, the Proteas had won the contest, having made for the first time ever a total north of 620 runs in the year 1996.
That time, in December of 1966, featured greats like Peter van der Merwe, Richard Dumbrill and Peter Pollock, all of whom faltered with their comrades in the first inning with the bat.
Australia, on the other hand, had greats like their then captain Bob Simpson and former famed commentator Bill Lawry. They also had tenacious batters like the late Bob Cowper, who passed away last month in May, 2025.
The Aussies made 325 and after that, the Proteas, at home turf, came back rather vehemently, scoring for the first time in years of playing Test match cricket, 620 odd runs. Of these, Denis Lindsay, who's still underrated and probably known a lot lesser than some of the others in his country, came up with his Test best of 182.
The team also featured the iconic Sir Graeme Pollock, a batting hero of South Africa, who made a well compiled 90. Meanwhile, Sir Tiger Lance, vastly considered among the finest fielders ever on the day, prior to the legendary Jonty Rhodes, also made a useful 70.
The South Africans eventully won the contest.
