The lone Test triple centurion for South Africa, Hashim Amla’s 311 against England at The Oval in 2012, is the highest individual score by any South African batsman in Test cricket.
Overall in Test cricket, 29 double centuries have been scored by the Proteas batters, in which the former captain, Graeme Smith, is the major contributor with 5 200+ scores.
In the below list, where we have listed down the top 10 South Africa Test scores, Smith and Amla are the two batsmen to feature twice.
Without much waffle, let’s get to the list…
Highest Individual Test Score for South Africa
| BATSMEN | SCORE | BALLS | VS | VENUE | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hashim Amla | 311* | 529 | England | The Oval | 2012 |
| AB de Villiers | 278* | 418 | Pakistan | Abu Dhabi | 2010 |
| Graeme Smith | 277 | 373 | England | Birmingham | 2003 |
| Daryll Cullinan | 275* | 490 | New Zealand | Auckland | 1999 |
| Gary Kirsten | 275 | 642 | England | Durban | 1999 |
| Graeme Pollock | 274 | 401 | Australia | Durban | 1970 |
| Graeme Smith | 259 | 370 | England | Lord's | 2003 |
| Ryan Rickelton | 259 | 343 | Pakistan | Cape Town | 2025 |
| Jackie McGlew | 255* | - | New Zealand | Wellington | 1953 |
| Hashim Amla | 253* | 473 | India | Nagpur | 2010 |
Stats Highlights
All 4 top innings played by the SA batters have come in foreign lands, whereas Gary Kirsten’s 275 against England in Durban is the highest score by any SA batsman at home.
Gary Kirsten has 3 200+ scores, whereas Hashim Amla comes second to Smith with 4 200+ scores.
Out of the top-listed 10, 5 innings have come against England and four of those came in England grounds – explains the African batsmen’s liking for playing in English conditions.
AB de Villiers’ 278 against Pakistan comprises six sixes, the highest in the list. ABD also holds the South African record for the most sixes in a Test innings when he hit 7 sixes in his 163 against Australia in Cape Town in 2009. Quinton de Kock is the other SA batter to hit 7 sixes in an innings.
