South African cricket team in Australia in 1993–94

The South Africa national cricket team toured Australia in the 1993–94 season to play three test matches against Australia in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide from 26 December 1993 to 1 February 1994. This was the first tour made by the South Africa cricket team to Australia in 30 years and was undertaken as South Africa's apartheid system was being dismantled and the country transitioned to democratic government.{{cite news |title=The South Africans in Australia, 1993-94 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/155278.html |access-date=10 January 2021 |work=Wisden |date=1995}} Kepler Wessels captained the South Africans in the first two tests. After a hand injury, Hansie Cronje replaced him for the third test. Allan Border was Australia's captain for the series.

The Australians and South Africans had different set-ups before the historic tour. The Australians had competed in a three-test series with New Zealand winning the series 2–0 after taking test wins at Hobart and Brisbane. Shane Warne was the leading wicket-taker for the series with 18 wickets.{{cite news|title=Warne glitter takes trophy for Australia|first=Phil|last=Wilkins|page=62|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=8 December 1993}} On the flip side, the South Africans competed in the 1993 Hero Cup in India with the same squad they were sending to the tour of Australia.{{cite news|title=SA team for CAB tourney|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19931103&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|access-date=20 March 2021|work=AFP|publisher=The Indian Express|date=3 November 1993|page=15}} After finishing the round-robin stage in second place, they were eliminated by the host nation.{{cite news|title=India thrill in City of Joy|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19931125&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|access-date=20 March 2021|page=16|publisher=The Indian Express|date=25 November 1993}}

One of the talking points that Rick Allen of The Sydney Morning Herald mentioned was Brett Schultz, who had taken twenty wickets in the Sri Lankan tour but a knee injury had forced him out of the series.{{cite news|title=S Africa routed on 'shocking' strip|page=54|first=Phil|last=Wilkins|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=15 December 1993}} In the preview to the test series, the media saw as a battle between the pace of South Africa and the spin duo of Warne and Tim May.{{cite news|title=Fast and Nasty|pages=64–65|first=Rick|last=Allen|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=17 October 1993}}{{cite news|title=Pace the key, says Wessels|first=Ross|last=Dunn|location=Johannesburg|newspaper=The Age|date=9 November 1993|page=46}}

The opening match of the tour for South Africa was against the Prime Minister's XI in Manuka Oval. The Prime Minister's XI took home the victory by four runs over the South Africans, who still had some fitness worries leading into the match.{{cite news|title=Sth Africa hit by injuries|page=50|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=2 December 1993}} Hansie Cronje was the top scorer for South Africa with 60 runs. Despite a late flurry of runs, South Africa did not match the required run rate early on and late tail-end wickets by Australia secured the victory.{{cite news|title=Hayden leads way to leave tourists queasy|first=Jacquelin|last=Magnay|page=39|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=3 December 1993}}

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 2 December 1993

| time =

| daynight =

| team1 = Prime Minister's XI {{Flagicon|AUS}}

| team2 = {{cr|RSA|1982}}

| score1 = 8/156 (42 overs)

| runs1 = Matthew Hayden 42 (78)

| wickets1 = Pat Symcox 3/24 (5 overs)

| score2 = 152 (42 overs)

| runs2 = Hansie Cronje 60 (81)

| wickets2 = Tom Moody 2/18 (9 overs)

| result = Prime Minister's XI won by 4 runs

| report = [https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/16398/scorecard/452433/prime-ministers-xi-vs-south-africans-tour-match-south-africa-tour-of-australia-1993-94 Scorecard]

| venue = Manuka Oval, Canberra

| umpires = Greg Davidson and Daryl Harper

| motm = Hansie Cronje (South Africa)

| toss = Prime Minister's XI won the toss and elected to field first.

| rain =

| notes =

}}

The South Africans' next tour match was a four-day game against Victoria at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Batting first, the South Africans were bowled out for 261 on the opening day with Brian McMillan the top scorer with 55, while Victoria bowler, Damien Fleming took six wickets.{{cite news|title=Fleming snares 6 tourists|page=70|date=5 December 1993|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald}} The following day, Victoria could not take command. The youngster Brad Hodge was top scorer with 80 as Victoria lost four wickets for a single run before declaring on 8/330 only half an hour before lunch on the third day.{{cite news|title=S African paceman send down a warning|first=Martin|last=Blake|page=38|date=6 December 1993|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald}} Also on the third day, an angry McMillian described the pitch as a "beach" after injuring his knee, which forced him out for the first two tests. Rubber mats had to put in place on the run-up areas.{{cite news|title=MCG beach sparks anger|first=Martin|last=Blake|page=48|date=7 December 1993|newspaper=The Age}} Bowling South Africa for 178, Victoria chased down the target of 110 with six wickets to spare. Darrin Ramshaw was top scorer for Victoria with 42.{{cite news|title=Cricket chief call on AFL to cut back MCG matches|first=Martin|last=Blake|page=32|date=8 December 1993|newspaper=The Age}}

{{Two-innings cricket match

| date = 4–7 December 1993

| team1 = {{cr-rt|RSA|1982}}

| team2 = {{cr-Aus|VIC}}

| score-team1-inns1 = 261 (90 overs)

| runs-team1-inns1 = Brian McMillan 55

| wickets-team1-inns1 = Damien Fleming 6/86 (28 overs)

| score-team2-inns1 = 8/330dec (114 overs)

| runs-team2-inns1 = Brad Hodge 80

| wickets-team2-inns1 = Brian McMillan 3/26 (12.1 overs)

| score-team1-inns2 = 178 (75.5 overs)

| runs-team1-inns2 = Jonty Rhodes 59

| wickets-team1-inns2 = Craig Howard 5/42 (24.5 overs)

| score-team2-inns2 = 4/110 (33.1 overs)

| runs-team2-inns2 = Darrin Ramshaw 41

| wickets-team2-inns2 = Allan Donald 2/22 (11 overs)

| result = Victoria won by 6 wickets

| report =

| venue = Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

| umpires =

| motm =

| toss =

| rain =

| notes =

}}

After playing four matches in the tri-nation series, South Africa went to Queensland to play in the final warm-up match before the first test. Batting first, South Africa scored 7/335 in their first innings. This included a 242 run partnership between Hansie Cronje and Darryl Cullinan after they were 3/38 when the partnership arrived; they broke the Australian record for the fourth-wicket partnership.{{cite news|title=Run feast quenches partners' thirst|first=Phil|last=Wilkins|date=21 December 1993|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=40}} In response, only Stuart Law and Ian Healy settled in with 56 and 41 respectively, with the Queenslanders being bowled out for 183 on the second day. Fanie de Villiers was the pick of the bowlers with 3/34 with all of his wickets being in the top order.{{cite news|title=Fanie spears Bananabenders|first=Phil|last=Wilkins|date=22 December 1993|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=42}} Not forcing the follow on, South Africa scored 8/224 in the second innings with Andrew Hudson scoring 105 in what was his first respectable score of the tour from six innings.{{cite news|title=Wessels, Healy in pre-Test flare-up|first=Phil|last=Wilkins|date=23 December 1993|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=34}} The match would end in a draw, though, but not before Trevor Barsby almost scored a century as he fell one run short after falling leg before wicket to de Villiers.{{cite news|title=Rhodes comeback a boost for test|first=Phil|last=Wilkins|date=24 December 1993|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=22}}

{{Two-innings cricket match

| date = 20–23 December 1993

| team1 = {{cr-rt|RSA|1982}}

| team2 = {{cr-Aus|QLD}}

| score-team1-inns1 = 7/335dec (106 overs)

| runs-team1-inns1 = Hansie Cronje 145

| wickets-team1-inns1 = Michael Kasprowicz 5/92 (26 overs)

| score-team2-inns1 = 183 (68.5 overs)

| runs-team2-inns1 = Stuart Law 56

| wickets-team2-inns1 = Fanie de Villiers 3/34 (15 overs)

| score-team1-inns2 = 8/224dec (88 overs)

| runs-team1-inns2 = Andrew Hudson 105

| wickets-team1-inns2 = Michael Kasprowicz 2/42 (10 overs)

| score-team2-inns2 = 5/268 (95.1 overs)

| runs-team2-inns2 = Trevor Barsby 99

| wickets-team2-inns2 = Fanie de Villiers 2/53 (22.1 overs)

| result = Match drawn

| report = [https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/south-africa-tour-of-australia-1993-94-61824/queensland-vs-south-africans-452432/full-scorecard Scorecard]

| venue = The Gabba, Brisbane

| umpires = Colin Timmins, Michael Jay and Peter Parker

| motm =

| toss = South Africa won the toss and elected to bat.

| rain =

| notes =

}}

Initially, this match was not on the tour schedule, but after the 1994 eastern seaboard fires tore through New South Wales, a match was arranged between the South Africans and an invitational eleven that featured Allan Border.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68439411/talks-about-cricket-match/|title=Cricket game to raise funds|date=13 January 1994|page=3|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|via=Newspapers.com}} For South Africa this was a practice match before the tri-nation series final against Australia and after Daryll Cullinan scored 95 in South Africa's 5/247. Chasing down the target, after a 59 from Mark Waugh, the invitational team collapsed as they lost six wickets for 25 runs to give South Africa the win by 19 runs. In Richard Snell's second spell he took four wickets to extinguish the hosts team's chances of winning.{{cite news|title=Cold comfort from the bushfire game|date=19 January 1994|page=54|first=Daniel|last=Williams|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald}}

{{Single-innings cricket match

| date = 18 January 1994

| time =

| daynight =

| team1 = {{cr-rt|RSA|1982}}

| team2 = {{Flagicon|NSW}} New South Wales Invitational XI

| score1 = 5/247 (50 overs)

| runs1 = Daryll Cullinan 95* (101)

| wickets1 = Mark Waugh 2/41 (9 overs)

| score2 = 228 (49 overs)

| runs2 = Mark Waugh 59 (77)

| wickets2 = Richard Snell 4/22 (9 overs)

| result = South Africa won by 19 runs

| report = [https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/south-africa-tour-of-australia-1993-94-61824/new-south-wales-invitational-xi-vs-south-africans-452438/full-scorecard Scorecard]

| venue = Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

| umpires = Darrell Hair and Ian Thomas

| toss = South Africa won the toss and elected to bat.

| rain =

| notes =

}}

{{Two-innings cricket match

| date = 26–30 December 1993

| team1 = {{cr-rt|AUS}}

| team2 = {{cr|RSA|1982}}

| score-team1-inns1 = 7/342dec (115.5 overs)

| runs-team1-inns1 = Mark Taylor 170 (349)

| wickets-team1-inns1 = Craig Matthews 3/68 (24 overs)

| score-team2-inns1 = 3/258 (115 overs)

| runs-team2-inns1 = Hansie Cronje 71 (168)

| wickets-team2-inns1 = Mark Waugh 1/20 (12 overs)

| result = Match drawn

| report = [https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/south-africa-tour-of-australia-1993-94-61824/australia-vs-south-africa-1st-test-63628/full-scorecard Scorecard]

| venue = Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

| umpires = Darrell Hair and Terry Prue

| motm = Mark Taylor (Australia)

| toss = Australia won the toss and elected to bat.

| rain = There was no play on the second day.

| notes = Fanie de Villiers and Gary Kirsten (both SA) made their Test debuts.

}}

As the first test between these two sides in Australia since the 1963–64 tour, the opening test of the series was a momentous occasion.{{efn-ua|There was a tour planned in 1971–72, but it was cancelled because of the anti-apartheid movement.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/when-people-power-sunk-south-africa-220550|title=When people power sunk South Africa|first=Martin|last=Williamson|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|date=1 October 2005|access-date=15 January 2021}}}}{{cite news|title=A tradition reborn|date=26 December 1993|newspaper=The Age|page=2}} Leading up to the test, Jonty Rhodes was declared fit and ready to go after being unable to face fast bowling for twelve days because of an injury to his hand sustained during the One Day International (ODI) played in Sydney.{{cite news|title=Rhodes fit for test|pages=41–42|date=26 December 1993|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald}} The opening two days of the test saw barely any action on the field with rain being a constant feature. After winning the toss, Australia got to 2/71 from the overs played during the first day with only Michael Slater and nightwatchman Shane Warne being the wickets to fall.{{cite news|title=S Africa lead the reunion charge|date=27 December 1993|first=Phil|last=Wilkins|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=38}} In the case of Warne's wicket, it was Fanie de Villiers first wicket in test cricket as he and Gary Kirsten debuted for the South Africans.{{cite news|title=Donald sounds warning to bats|date=27 December 1993|first=Greg|last=Baum|newspaper=The Age|page=23}}

The second day saw no play for the first time in Melbourne since the 1970–71 match against England when that whole test was abandoned. Estimates of revenue from the first two days was around $600,000 because of the loss of ten of the twelve hours of scheduled play.{{cite news|title=Weather turns Test to disaster|date=28 December 1993|first=Greg|last=Baum|newspaper=The Age|page=24}} The following day saw another 128 minutes being played for only 69 runs before rain affected the rest of the day. The Australian Cricket Board had discussions about the test being turned into an ODI (One Day International).{{cite news|title=Rain havoc may transform Test into one-dayer|date=29 December 1993|first=Phil|last=Wilkins|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=30}} After the final two days, the match ended in a draw. During the match, Mark Taylor scored his 12th century becoming the second player after Martin Crowe to score centuries against seven different test nations.{{cite news|title=Taylor, a centurion to seven nations|date=30 December 1993|first=Martin|last=Blake|newspaper=The Age|page=1}} He would go on to score 170 as he and Mark Waugh (84) led Australia to declare on 7/342. For South Africa, Craig Matthews was the pick of the bowlers with 3/68.{{cite news|title=Wessels injury a blow for Sydney test|date=30 December 1993|first=Phil|last=Wilkins|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=32}} After ending the day on 1/59, South Africa finished the test on 3/258 with Cronje scoring 71 and Kepler Wessels, who had to be on pain-killing tablets the previous day, ended on 63 not out as the match finished in a draw.{{cite news|title=Gritty Wessels set to play on|first=Greg|last=Baum|newspaper=The Age|date=31 December 1993|page=20}}

{{Two-innings cricket match

| date = 2–6 January 1994

| team1 = {{cr-rt|RSA|1982}}

| team2 = {{cr|AUS}}

| score-team1-inns1 = 169 (74.1 overs)

| runs-team1-inns1 = Gary Kirsten 67 (186)

| wickets-team1-inns1 = Shane Warne 7/56 (27 overs)

| score-team2-inns1 = 292 (141.2 overs)

| runs-team2-inns1 = Michael Slater 92 (262)

| wickets-team2-inns1 = Fanie de Villiers 4/80 (36 overs)

| score-team1-inns2 = 239 (109 overs)

| runs-team1-inns2 = Jonty Rhodes 76* (162)

| wickets-team1-inns2 = Shane Warne 5/72 (42 overs)

| score-team2-inns2 = 111 (56.3 overs)

| runs-team2-inns2 = Craig McDermott 29* (38)

| wickets-team2-inns2 = Fanie de Villiers 6/43 (23.3 overs)

| result = South Africa won by 5 runs

| report = [https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/south-africa-tour-of-australia-1993-94-61824/australia-vs-south-africa-2nd-test-63629/full-scorecard Scorecard]

| venue = Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

| umpires = Steve Randell and Bill Sheahan

| motm = Fanie de Villiers (South Africa)

| toss = South Africa won the toss and elected to bat.

| rain =

| notes =

}}

The series' second test match saw changes only to the Australian side as they went with the same twelve players but with McGrath replacing Reiffel in the lineup. South Africa went with the same eleven from the first test.{{cite news|title=S Africa ace in knee test|first=Greg|last=Baum|location=Sydney|date=1 January 1994|page=24|newspaper=The Age}} This was despite Brian McMillian testing his knee in the nets hoping for a call up to the team as he was picked as the 12th man. Wessels got through training and kept his spot on the team.{{cite news|title=It's a turner|date=2 January 1994|page=38|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald}} On the opening day, South Africa won the toss and elected to bat. Initially, the decision was a good one, with the South Africans being 1/91 with Kirsten (67) and Cronje (41) setting a 90-run partnership. But with the crowd of 32,681 urging him on, Warne took 7/22 in a 78-ball spell as South Africa collapsed to be all out for 169.{{cite news|title=Shane snares seven little South Africans|date=3 January 1994|pages=1, 32|first=Tony|last=Squires|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald}} After surviving the first day on 1/20, Australia slow-marched their way towards South Africa's score with Slater (92) being in a 104-run partnership with captain Allan Border (49) that took four hours. During this time, Slater got hit on his right hand three times from the small plates of grass on the Randwick End with Border also getting hit in the eye as he attempted to sweep over Symcox' bowling.{{cite news|title=True grit the real winner at SCG|date=4 January 1994|page=32|first=Phil|last=Wilkins|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald}} In an interview that day, Slater said, "The wicket is deteriorating quite quickly, and quite powdery." The Age described the pitch as more disintegrated than a fourth-day Shield strip. South Africa wasn't without trouble with Wessels having to be on the field for a short while due to a dive from second slip as it split the webbing inside the hand.{{cite news|title=Slater raps pitch for SCG grind|date=4 January 1994|first=Greg|last=Baum|newspaper=The Age}}

Australia batted for close to three hours on the third day before being bowled out for 292. This was helped by Damien Martyn, who delivered with his square cuts and pull shots for his 59. South Africa, though, had six chances going down during the innings which added to the four from the previous test. In bowling, de Villiers was the pick of the bowlers as he took 4/80 from 36 overs while Allan Donald also took four wickets.{{cite news|title=Battered S Africa tries to hold on|date=5 January 1994|first=Greg|last=Baum|location=Sydney|page=30|newspaper=The Age}} South Africa's she second innings saw some resistance with Kirsten and Cronje keeping Shane Warne away from wicket-taking opportunities. After Kirsten was bowled by Craig McDermott, Wessels (18) was brought up the order to bat at four. Despite the injury to his hand, which would later rule him out of the rest of the series,{{cite news|title=Captain's injury curse strikes down Wessels|date=5 January 1994|first=Greg|last=Baum|page=30|newspaper=The Age}} he defended his wicket for 41 minutes, getting South Africa to 2/94 by day's end.{{cite news|title=Hurt Wessels keep S Africa in the contest|date=5 January 1994|first=Phil|last=Wilkins|page=38|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald}} After an early collapse of 3/9 on the fourth day, Jonty Rhodes (76*) steadied the ship as he lasted three and a quarter hours, wearing down Warne and counter-attacking McDermott. His innings featured seven boundaries, which included a six over the square leg fence. Small contributions from Dave Richardson (24) and Allan Donald (10) got the score to 239, which set Australia a target of 117. Warne again being the pick of bowlers with 5/72 as his bowling performance of 12/128 had the best second performance by a bowler at the SCG (Sydney Cricket Ground).{{cite news|title=De Villiers warns: it's not over yet|date=6 January 1994|first=Phil|last=Wilkins|page=38|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald}}

Chasing 117 for victory, Australia got off to 1/51 before de Villiers took three wickets from five balls as he got David Boon (24), Tim May (0) and Taylor (27) to put Australia at 4/63 at the end of the day. Only Mark Waugh avoided giving de Villiers his hat-trick when he clipped the ball to mid-wicket for a three.{{cite news|title=De Villiers shock spell spooks bats|date=6 January 1994|first=Greg|last=Baum|location=Sydney|page=22|newspaper=The Age}} The first over of the final day saw Border's wicket fall for seven off Donald to put Australia at 5/63. After the wickets from Warne, Healy and Waugh fell, Australia was now 8/75 with two wickets left. McDermott played his natural game on his 29*, while at the other end Damien Martyn (6) held firm at his crease. For 106 minutes he kept his wicket alive, bringing the target to only seven runs needed before driving a catch in the covers. The last wicket fell only eight balls later to give South Africa the win by five runs and their first test win at the SCG.{{cite news|title=Sweetest win as S Africa climb the first mountain|date=7 January 1994|first=Phil|last=Wilkins|page=28|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald}}{{cite news|title=The path to an impossible win|date=7 January 1994|first=Greg|last=Baum|page=22|newspaper=The Age}}

{{Two-innings cricket match

| date = 28 January–1 February 1994

| team1 = {{cr-rt|AUS}}

| team2 = {{cr|RSA|1982}}

| score-team1-inns1 = 7/469dec (164 overs)

| runs-team1-inns1 = Steve Waugh 164 (276)

| wickets-team1-inns1 = Brian McMillan 3/89 (30 overs)

| score-team2-inns1 = 273 (132.2 overs)

| runs-team2-inns1 = Andrew Hudson 90 (233)

| wickets-team2-inns1 = Steve Waugh 4/26 (18 overs)

| score-team1-inns2 = 6/124dec (40 overs)

| runs-team1-inns2 = Mark Taylor 38 (75)
David Boon 38 (67)

| wickets-team1-inns2 = Allan Donald 2/26 (11 overs)

| score-team2-inns2 = 129 (105.5 overs)

| runs-team2-inns2 = Peter Kirsten 42 (229)

| wickets-team2-inns2 = Shane Warne 4/31 (30.5 overs)

| result = Australia won by 191 runs

| report = [https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/south-africa-tour-of-australia-1993-94-61824/australia-vs-south-africa-3rd-test-63630/full-scorecard Scorecard]

| venue = Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

| umpires = Darrell Hair and Terry Prue

| motm = Steve Waugh (Australia)

| toss = Australia won the toss and elected to bat.

| rain =

| notes =

}}

Heading into the test, the teams played in tri-series finals, which Australia won 2–1.{{cite news|title=Border wins hearts and World Series|date=26 January 1994|first=Phil|last=Wilkins|page=52|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald}} On the day of the third final, the Australian touring squad confirmed their spot in the Austral-Asia Cup that was to be played after the South African tour.{{cite news|title=Jones, Hughes for S Africa|date=25 January 1994|first=Greg|last=Baum|location=Sydney|page=34|newspaper=The Age}}{{cite news|title=Border warns of too many tours|date=28 January 1994|first=Greg|last=Baum|location=Adelaide|page=22|newspaper=The Age}} After winning the toss and electing to bat, Australian players Taylor, Slater and Boon all recorded half-centuries before getting out trying to raise the tempo of their innings. At the end of the day, Australia ended at 4/240 with Donald being the only multi-wicket taker with two wickets.{{cite news|title=Test fortune rests with AB, Waugh|date=29 January 1994|first=Greg|last=Baum|location=Adelaide|page=54|newspaper=The Age}} After ending the first day on 32, Steve Waugh played with impressive confidence on his way to 164 runs as he and Allan Border broke the Australian record for the fifth wicket partnership against South Africa with 208.{{cite news|title=Waugh shows way|date=30 January 1994|first=Mark|last=Ray|location=Adelaide|page=Sport - 2|newspaper=The Age}} During that partnership though, Border became the first cricket player to get to 11,000 tests runs on his way to 84 as he got Australia to declare at 7/469.{{cite news|title=Steve's turn to thrash tourists|date=30 January 1994|first=Phil|last=Wilkins|page=59|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald}} In response, South Africa only just avoided the follow on as they scored 273 for their first innings. Andrew Hudson was the South African's top scorer with 90 as he got them to 2/173 with Gary Kirsten (43) and Peter Kirsten (79) contributing. This was undone, though, by an inspirational spell from Steve Waugh who took four wickets in his spell. This was due to not taking the new ball at the end of the 80th over with Border keeping Waugh on.{{cite news|title=Waugh comes to the rescue|date=31 January 1994|first=Greg|last=Baum|location=Adelaide|page=27|newspaper=The Age}}{{cite news|title=S Africian hero reported|date=31 January 1994|first=Phil|last=Wilkins|page=40|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald}}

Not forcing the follow on, the Australians struggled in the second innings with only Taylor (38) and Boon (38) resisting the South Africans as they limped to 6/124 before Border declared with 25 minutes after the third session of Day 4. The final hour of the fourth day saw Warne pick up two wickets for only two runs as the South Africans chasing 320 to win the series ended the day on 3/18 as Cronje and Kirsten both fell for single figures.{{cite news|title=Warne ready to snatch victory|date=1 February 1994|first=Phil|last=Wilkins|page=50|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald}} Fanie de Villiers (30) and Kirsten (42) held the Australians out with a three-hour partnership for 82 runs as their opponents made 12 changes of seven different bowlers before de Villiers fell from a catch from Paul Reiffel at mid-off.{{cite news|title=Australians overcome heroic pair|date=2 February 1994|first=Greg|last=Baum|location=Adelaide|page=28|newspaper=The Age}} That wicket would see a collapse as the South Africans lost their remaining seven wickets for only 29 runs to be bowled out for 129 and give Australia the win by 191 runs. During this collapse, Warne who got his 100th test wicket, while Healy claimed his 200th victim in test cricket with a splendid diving catch of McDermott.{{cite news|title=Justice has been done, says jubilant Border|date=2 February 1994|first=Phil|last=Wilkins|page=54|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald}}

After the three tests were played, Australian batsman, Mark Taylor ended the series with the most runs with 304 runs from five innings which included his 170 in the drawn test match at Melbourne. He finished ahead of fellow team-mate, Michael Slater (185 runs) and South African batsman Gary Kirsten (175 runs) who rounded out the top three. In the bowling area, Australian spinner, Shane Warne ended up as the leading wicket taker of the series with 18 wickets which included a 7/56 from the first innings in the Sydney test match. He finished ahead of fellow team-mate, Craig McDermott with South African pace bowler, Allan Donald rounding out the top three.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71271859/cricket-averages-for-199394-south/|title=Cricket Averages|date=3 February 1994|page=47|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|via=newspapers.com}}

{{reflist|group=upper-alpha}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1993-94/RSA_IN_AUS/ Cricinfo]

{{International cricket in 1993–94}}

{{International cricket tours of Australia}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:South African cricket team in Australia in 1993-94}}

Category:1993 in Australian cricket

Category:1993 in South African cricket

Category:1993–94 Australian cricket season

Category:1994 in Australian cricket

Category:1994 in South African cricket

Category:International cricket competitions from 1991–92 to 1994

1993-94