# Australian cricket team in South Africa in 1996–97

The Australia national cricket team toured South Africa during the 1996–97 season and played a three-match Test series and a seven-match One Day International series against the South Africa national cricket team.
Australia was led in the Test series by Mark Taylor while South Africa was led by Hansie Cronje.
Australia won the Test series 2–1 and the ODI series 4–3.
Steve Waugh of Australia emerged as the top run-scorer in the Test series with 313 runs, with an average of 78.25. Jason Gillespie finished the series as top wicket-taker with 13 wickets. Steve Waugh was named "man of the Test series".

## Squad

| Tests | ODIs | ODIs |
| Australia | South Africa | Australia |
| Mark Taylor (c) Matthew Elliott Matthew Hayden Justin Langer Mark Waugh Steve Waugh Greg Blewett Michael Bevan Ian Healy Shane Warne Andy Bichel Paul Reiffel Glenn McGrath Jason Gillespie | Hansie Cronje (c) Adam Bacher Louis Koen Jacques Kallis Daryll Cullinan Jonty Rhodes Herschelle Gibbs Shaun Pollock Lance Klusener Dave Richardson Pat Symcox Derek Crookes Allan Donald Rudi Bryson | Ian Healy (c) Mark Taylor Mark Waugh Steve Waugh Greg Blewett Michael Bevan Shane Warne Andy Bichel Paul Reiffel Jason Gillespie Adam Dale Michael di Venuto Brendon Julian Stuart Law |
Adam Gilchrist was brought in due to Ian Healy's suspension from the first two one-day internationals.

## Test matches
### 1st Test

* 28 February–4 March 1997 Scorecard
* Australia won by an innings and 196 runs New Wanderers, Johannesburg Umpires: CJ Mitchley (SA) and S Venkataraghavan (IND) Player of the match: SR Waugh and GS Blewett (AUS)
* South Africa won the toss and elected to bat.

### 2nd Test

* 14–17 March 1997 Scorecard
* Australia won by 2 wickets St George's Park Cricket Ground, Port Elizabeth Umpires: RE Koertzen (SA) and S Venkataraghavan (IND) Player of the match: ME Waugh (AUS)
* Australia won the toss and elected to field.
* The match was scheduled for five days but completed in four.

### 3rd Test

* 21–24 March 1997 Scorecard
* South Africa won by 8 wickets Centurion Park, Centurion, Gauteng Umpires: MJ Kitchen (ENG) and CJ Mitchley (SA) Player of the match: AA Donald (SA)
* South Africa won the toss and elected to field.
* The match was scheduled for five days but completed in four.

## ODI series summary
### 1st ODI

* 29 March 1997 Scorecard
| Australia 223/9 (50 overs) | v | South Africa 227/4 (47 overs) |
| MG Bevan 51* (60) L Klusener 2/29 (6 overs) | | DJ Cullinan 85* (116) SK Warne 2/36 (10 overs) |
* South Africa won by 6 wickets Buffalo Park, East London Umpires: CJ Mitchley and DL Orchard Player of the match: DJ Cullinan (SA)
* South Africa won the toss and elected to field.
* AC Dale and MJ Di Venuto (both AUS) made their ODI debuts.

### 2nd ODI

* 31 March 1997 Scorecard
| South Africa 221/8 (50 overs) | v | Australia 222/3 (45 overs) |
| JH Kallis 82 (119) AC Dale 3/18 (7 overs) | | ME Waugh 115* (125) PL Symcox 2/65 (10 overs) |
* Australia won by 7 wickets St George's Park Cricket Ground, Port Elizabeth Umpires: RE Koertzen and CJ Mitchley Player of the match: ME Waugh (AUS)
* Australia won the toss and elected to field.
* LJ Koen (SA) made his ODI debut.

### 3rd ODI

* 2 April 1997 (D/N) Scorecard
| South Africa 245/8 (50 overs) | v | Australia 199 (44.5 overs) |
| JN Rhodes 83* (76) JN Gillespie 2/39 (10 overs) | | MG Bevan 82 (102) RE Bryson 2/34 (9 overs) |
* South Africa won by 46 runs Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town Umpires: RE Koertzen and DL Orchard Player of the match: JN Rhodes (SA)
* Australia won the toss and elected to field.

### 4th ODI

* 5 April 1997 (D/N) Scorecard
| Australia 211/9 (50 overs) | v | South Africa 196 (48.1 overs) |
| AC Gilchrist 77 (88) SM Pollock 4/33 (10 overs) | | AM Bacher 45 (76) AJ Bichel 3/43 (10 overs) |
* Australia won by 15 runs Kingsmead Cricket Ground, Durban Umpires: WA Diedricks and DL Orchard Player of the match: SM Pollock (SA)
* Australia won the toss and elected to bat.

### 5th ODI

* 8 April 1997 (D/N) Scorecard
| Australia 258/7 (50 overs) | v | South Africa 250/8 (50 overs) |
| MJ Di Venuto 89 (114) AA Donald 3/67 (10 overs) | | JH Kallis 55 (67) JN Gillespie 2/46 (10 overs) |
* Australia won by 8 runs New Stadium, Johannesburg Umpires: DF Becker and SB Lambson Player of the match: MJ Di Venuto (AUS)
* Australia won the toss and elected to bat.

### 6th ODI

* 10 April 1997 (D/N) Scorecard
| South Africa 284/7 (50 overs) | v | Australia 287/5 (49 overs) |
| DJ Cullinan 89 (96) SK Warne 2/52 (10 overs) | | MG Bevan 103 (95) SM Pollock 3/40 (10 overs) |
* Australia won by 5 wickets Centurion Park, Centurion, Gauteng Umpires: DF Becker and SB Lambson Player of the match: MG Bevan (AUS)
* South Africa won the toss and elected to bat.

### 7th ODI

* 13 April 1997 Scorecard
| South Africa 310/6 (50 overs) | v | Australia 201 (37 overs) |
| L Klusener 92 (118) AJ Bichel 2/50 (10 overs) | | SR Waugh 91 (79) L Klusener 3/41 (7 overs) |
* South Africa won by 109 runs Goodyear Park, Bloemfontein Umpires: WA Diedricks and RE Koertzen Player of the match: L Klusener (SA)
* Australia won the toss and elected to field.