Five great Proteas-Australia Test moments at Newlands

Vernon Philander cleaned up the Australians on his debut at Newlands back in 2011.

The history between the Proteas and Australia at Newlands is packed with drama, individual brilliance and a few unforgettable turning points. 

IOL Sport’s Zaahier Adams takes a look back ahead of Tuesday's series decider, these are five standout moments worth revisiting.

1. South Africa finally conquer Australia at Newlands

January 1970 · South Africa won by 170 runs

Australia had won the first six Tests between the sides at Newlands before Ali Bacher’s South Africa broke the sequence. Eddie Barlow struck 127 in the first innings as the hosts claimed their first Test victory over Australia at the ground.

2. 2002 — Ponting’s ice-cold finish in Warne's 100th Test

March 2002 · Australia won by four wickets

After being crushed by a record innings and 360 runs in the previous Test at the Wanderers, the Proteas overhauled their team. It had the desired impact with the Proteas showing some sort of fight for the first time in the 2001/2002 summer through Andrew Hall, Paul Adams and Neil McKenzie. 

But ultimately it still was not enough with Australia chasing down 331 on a tense final day. Ricky Ponting finished unbeaten on 100, hitting Adams for six to seal the win and complete his century in the same stroke. Shane Warne, playing his 100th Test, also played a key role with eight wickets in the match as Australia wrapped up the series.

March 2009 · South Africa won by an innings and 20 runs

With the series already surrendered, the Proteas finally found their fighting spirit as the hosts amassed a colossal 651, with AB de Villiers scoring 163, Ashwell Prince 150 and Jacques Kallis an unbeaten 102. 

Prince’s innings was particularly poignant after the feisty middle-order batter was moved up to open the batting alongside debutant Imraan Khan. Prince had publicly voiced his disapproval about the shift, especially after a bust-up during a domestic game against some of his Proteas teammates. The victory was ultimately achieved with left-arm spinner Paul Harris then claiming six wickets in Australia’s second innings to help secure a dominant victory. It remains one of the great batting performances by the Proteas at Newlands.

4. Philander inspires the astonishing collapse

November 2011 · South Africa won by eight wickets

Australia’s captain Michael Clarke delivered one of the finest innings witnessed by the Newlands patrons when he struck a masterful 151. It increased in value when South Africa were dismissed for just 96 to place the visitors firmly in control with a first-innings lead of 188. But that’s when the world went crazy on a manic afternoon that will forever be etched into the fables of the historic ground. Test debutant Vernon Philander proceeded to rip through the visitors, taking 5/15 as Australia crashed to 47 all out. It set in motion one of the most memorable Proteas comebacks as the home team chased down 236 with ease.

March 2018 · South Africa won by 322 runs

South Africa overwhelmed Australia in the third Test, with Morné Morkel taking 5/23 in the final innings as the visitors collapsed for 107 while chasing 430. But the match became infamous for the ball-tampering scandal involving Cameron Bancroft, Steve Smith and David Warner. It was a massive Proteas victory, forever entwined with one of cricket’s most notorious controversies.