# Australian cricket team in South Africa in 1902–03

The Australia national cricket team toured South Africa as part of the 1902 season as they played in three test matches against South Africa. The tour was part of a home voyage from touring England with the national team making a one-month stopover via the Cape of Good Hope. Australia captain was Joe Darling while South Africa had three different captains throughout the series with Henry Taberer, Biddy Anderson and Ernest Halliwell.
The first test at the Old Wanderers was also the first match between the two sides. Six players made their debuts for South Africa as despite getting Australia to follow-on, the match would end in a draw. One week at the same venue, Australia would take the test out by 159 runs off the back of a Warwick Armstrong century and a seven wicket haul in the second innings from Jack Saunders. Two weeks at the final test which was held at the Newlands Cricket Ground, Australia would cruise to a ten wicket victory. 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

* 11–14 October 1902 Scorecard
* Match drawn Old Wanderers, Johannesburg Umpires: F Hearne and A Soames
* South Africa won the toss and elected to bat.
* 12 October was taken as a rest day
* LJ Tancred, CMH Hathorn, CJE Smith, HM Taberer, AW Nourse and G Thornton (all SA) made their Test debuts.

### Second Test

* 18–21 October 1902 Scorecard
* Australia won by 159 runs Old Wanderers, Johannesburg Umpires: F Hearne and FE Smith
* Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
* 19 October was taken as a rest day
* JH Anderson and JJ Kotze (both SA) made their Test debuts.

### Third Test

* 8–11 November 1902 Scorecard
* Australia won by 10 wickets Newlands, Cape Town Umpires: WH Creese and F Hearne
* Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
* 9 November was taken as a rest day
* PS Twentyman-Jones (SA) made his Test debut.

## Tour matches

| No. | Date | Opponents | Result | Batting first | Batting second | Venue |
| 1 | 11–14 October 1902 | SOUTH AFRICA (1st Test) | Match drawn | South Africa 454 (95 overs) & 101/4 (32 overs) | Australia 296 (51 overs) & 372/7d (f/o) (78 overs) | Old Wanderers, Johannesburg |
| | 15–17 October 1902 | XV of Transvaal | Match drawn | Transvaal 462 (91.4 overs) & 201/8d (56 overs) | Australians 392 (59.2 overs) & 158/3 (26 overs) | Old Wanderers, Johannesburg |
| 2 | 18–21 October 1902 | SOUTH AFRICA (2nd Test) | Australians won by 159 runs | Australia 175 (55.1 overs) & 309 (81.4 overs) | South Africa 240 (53 overs) & 85 (22 overs) | Old Wanderers, Johannesburg |
| | 25–27 October 1902 | XV of Natal | Match drawn | Australians 268 (71.2 overs) & 203/6d (37 overs) | Natal 206 (75 overs) & 69/6 (42 overs) | Lord's, Durban |
| 3 | 5–6 November 1902 | Western Province | Australians won by 282 runs | Australians 172 (42.1 overs) & 274 (58 overs) | Western Province 84 (22.4 overs) & 80 (28.5 overs) | Newlands, Cape Town |
| 4 | 8–11 November 1902 | SOUTH AFRICA (3rd Test) | Australia won by 10 wickets | Australia 252 (70.5 overs) & 59/0 (9.5 overs) | South Africa 85 (33.2 overs) & 225 (f/o) (63.1 overs) | Newlands, Cape Town |