South Africa and Australia have produced some of the greatest cricketers in Test history, and ahead of their latest encounter, The Common Sense has selected the greatest combined Australia-South Africa combined Test XI of all time. The side features seven Australians and four South Africans, with Don Bradman, Graeme Pollock, Shane Warne, and Kagiso Rabada among those making the cut.

There is one important qualification. To be eligible for selection, players must have appeared in at least five Tests between South Africa and Australia. The statistics used to justify their selection are also drawn exclusively from matches between the two countries, rather than their overall Test careers.

That rule excludes some extraordinary players, most notably South African opening batsman Barry Richards, who played only four Tests before South Africa’s exclusion from international cricket in 1970.

The side’s openers are Australia’s Jack Fingleton and David Warner. Fingleton scored 518 runs against South Africa at an average of 74.00, including three centuries in six Tests. Warner, meanwhile, scored 1 415 runs at 52.41, including five centuries in 15 matches.

At number three is Don Bradman, whose record against South Africa is almost beyond belief. In five Tests, Bradman accumulated 806 runs at an average of 201.50, including four centuries.

Neil Harvey follows at number four, having scored 1 625 runs at 81.25, with eight centuries in 14 Tests. Graeme Pollock, one of South Africa’s greatest batsmen, takes the fifth position, with 1 453 runs at 69.19, including five centuries in 14 matches.

Michael Clarke completes the specialist batting line-up, having scored 1 487 runs at 67.59, including five centuries in 14 Tests.

South Africa's Denis Lindsay takes the wicketkeeping gloves. In 10 Tests against Australia, Lindsay scored 838 runs, including three centuries, and claimed 40 catches.

The bowling attack combines two South Africans and two Australians. Mike Procter took 41 wickets in seven Tests at an extraordinary average of 15.02, while Pat Cummins claimed 48 wickets in nine matches at 18.31.

Kagiso Rabada earns his place with 58 wickets in 11 Tests at 21.39, while Shane Warne provides the spin option, having claimed 130 wickets in 24 Tests at 24.16.

Together, these 11 players represent an exceptional collection of batting and bowling talent across generations. The side spans the era of Bradman in the 1930s through to the modern careers of Warner, Cummins, and Rabada, reflecting the enduring quality of one of Test cricket’s great rivalries.