The Australian team in South Africa, 1921-22

On their way home after their enormously successful trip to England, the Australian team had a short tour in South Africa, their programme of six fixtures comprising three Test matches and single games with the Transvaal, Natal, and the Western Province. As might have been expected from what was known of South African cricket since the war, they had for the most part a light task, gaining four easy victories, and leaving the other two games unfinished. However, in the Test matches - restricted to four days - they had to be content with one win, the other two games being drawn. In the first of these all-important fixtures the South Africans narrowly escaped defeat, but in the second, thanks to the batting of Frank, Nourse, and Taylor, they put up a great fight when they followed on, Frank, in scoring 152, withstanding the bowling for over eight hours and a half. Owing to illness Armstrong took no part in the matches, Collins captaining the team. The Australians made lots of runs, and only in the second Test match was their bowling really collared. Gregory did great things both as bowler and batsman, and Macartney kept up his wonderful form, scoring 493 runs in nine innings. Moreover, his bowling had much to do with the only victory in the Test matches. On the other hand Bardsley, who suffered from illness, was rather unsuccessful. Ryder batted so finely as to confirm the impression that he had been kept too much in the background in England. Collins had the biggest aggregate of runs, with an average of fifty.

SUMMARY OF THE TOUR - Matches 6, Won 4, Drawn 2.

TEST MATCHES - Matches 3, Won 1, Drawn 2.

October 22, 24, 25, at Johannesburg, v. The Transvaal - Australians, 273 and 63 for one wicket; The Transvaal, 173 and 162. Australians won by nine wickets.

October 29, 31, November 1, at Durban, v. Natal - Australians, 213 and 284 for seven wickets ( innings declared closed); Natal, 164 and 139. Australians won by 194 runs.

November 5, 7, 8, 9, at Durban, v. South Africa - Australia, 299 and 324 for seven wickets ( innings declared closed); South Africa, 232 and 184 for seven wickets. Drawn.

November 12, 14, 15, 16, at Johannesburg, v. South Africa - Australia, 450 and 7 for no wicket; South Africa, 243 and 472 for eight wickets ( innings declared closed). Drawn.

November 19, 21, 22, at Capetown, v. Western Province - Australians, 231 and 114 for two wickets; Western Province, 153 and 191. Australians won by eight wickets.

November 26, 28, 29, at Capetown, v. South Africa - Australia, 396 and one for no wicket; South Africa, 180 and 216. Australia won by ten wickets.

Match reports for

1st Test: South Africa v Australia at Durban, Nov 5-9, 1921
Report | Scorecard

2nd Test: South Africa v Australia at Johannesburg, Nov 12-16, 1921
Report | Scorecard

3rd Test: South Africa v Australia at Cape Town, Nov 26-29, 1921
Report | Scorecard