1888-89 [Scorecards]
The first Tests between England and South Africa took place in 1888-89, when a weak team under the leadership of C Aubrey-Smith- later to become a well known actor in Hollywood, and a leading figure in cricket in California played two Tests. South Africa were led by O Dunell, and were out-classed. The games were played on matting, and the inexperienced South Africans had great difficulty against the bowling of Johnny Briggs, losing the first Test by 8 wickets, and the second by an innings and 202 runs. Bobby Abel made a century in the 2nd Test (the first century in South African first-class cricket), and Briggs took 15-28 in the match. England were captained in this second Test by Bowden, who aged 23 years 144 days became England's youngest captain three years before dying in Umtali Hospital- a glorified mud hut where his body had to be protected from marauding lions prior to being interred in a coffin made from whiskey cases. Tancred became the first player to carry his bat, making 26* out of South Africa's 43 in the first innings. Ashley took 7/95 in his only Test. Briggs took 300 wickets on the tour at an average of around 5.

1891-2 [Scorecard]
Another by no means full strength side toured in 1891-2, playing a single Test. The keeper, H Wood made a century at number 8 - the first century by a wicket-keeper in Test matches; it was his only hundred in first-class cricket. England won by an innings and 189 runs thanks to the bowling of Ferris, who took 13 wickets in the match. Ferris and WL Murdoch were making their debuts for England, after previously representing Australia. For the first time England contested two Test series simultaneously; two days after WW Read's team played the Test, Lord Sheffield's side began their match against Australia. Four Hearnes took part in the Test, providing the second instance of three brothers playing in the same match, Alec and George Gibbons for England, and Frank for South Africa, John Thomas was their cousin. South Africa visited England for the first time in 1894, but played no Tests. They beat a strong MCC team, captained by WG, at Lords.

1895-96 [Scorecards]
Lord Hawkes team was of reasonable strength, with Fry making his debut, Tom Hayward, and the redoubtable George Lohmann. SMJ Woods, formerly a Test player with Australia, made his debut for England. They won all three Tests with ease. The first Test belonged to Lohmann, taking 7/38 in the first innings, and returning the incredible analysis of 8 wickets for 7 runs in the second. He ended the match - on the second day - with a hat-trick. South Africa were dismissed in only 94 balls for 30, the lowest score until 1954-55 when New Zealand were dismissed for 26. An innings victory in the second Test was based on a century from Hayward, and another wonderful bowling performance from Lohmann, who became the first bowler to take 9 wickets in a Test innings, also taking his hundredth Test wicket in the match. Umpire Miller had played in the previous Test. In the final Test, Lohmann took his total of wickets for the three-match rubber to 35 at 5.8 runs apiece, and England had another innings win. Major RM Poore, whose regiment was based in South Africa, did not distinguish himself in the Tests, but sent fair warning of what was to come in 1898 with two centuries in tour matches against the Englishmen. The general standard of cricket had markedly improved.

1898-99 [Scorecards]
Lord Hawke brought another strongish side to South Africa in 1898-99, in the shadow of the looming Boer War. The first Test was closely contested, England winning by just 32 runs. Jimmy Sinclair demonstrated his ability with an innings of 86, and Warner became the first to carry his bat through a completed innings on debut for England with 132*. AE Trott was making his debut for England after appearing in three Tests for Australia. The second Test resulted in an easy win for England but was a personal triumph for Sinclair. Sinclair, having scored South Africa's first Test fifty in the previous match, hit his country's first Test hundred - his first in first-class cricket. He also became the first player to score a century and take six wickets in the first innings of the same Test.

South Africa's second innings lasted only 114 balls, and Sinclair's 4 meant that he contributed 51% of his sides match aggregate. Trott and Haigh were the England bowlers responsible for this debacle, Haigh with 6/11 and Trott with 4/19. The Boer War prevented any further Tests for 6 years but in the meantime a visit from the Australians, two non-Test tours to England, and the establishment of the Currie Cup did much to improve cricket in South Africa.

1905-6 [Scorecards]
After the one sided contests of previous tours, PF Warner's side was expected to be more than equal to the South Africans. They did not take into account however, the revolution in bowling styles that had swept South Africa with the invention of the googly. Schwarz, Faulkner, White and Vogler had all learnt this new "mystery" delivery, and on the matting wickets of South Africa had become a formidable proposition. The first Test was a rude awakening for the tourists, and was a great match. The four googly bowlers were too much for England in their first innings, but Lees with 5 wickets had South Africa 100 behind on first innings. England only made 190 when they batted again but a target of 284 seemed well beyond the South Africans, as they slumped to 106/5. Gordon White and Nourse then put on 121 runs, before three wickets fell for just 13 more. Nourse was joined by Sherwell, the captain and wicketkeeper but in his first Test. In mounting tension South Africa crept close to victory until Sherwell dispatched a full toss from Relf for a famous victory.

The second Test was one-sided for South Africa. England batted but could only amass 148, and South Africa made 277 with 9 players in double figures or better. Schwarz took 4-30, and South Africa coasted to a 9 wicket win. The fast matting wicket was to the South Africans liking in the 3rd Test, where all eleven players reached double figures, Hathorn with a century. Fanes 143 kept England close, but White's superb 147 allowed South Africa to declare setting England 440 to win. Snooke was the bowling star, removing 8 England wickets taking South Africa to a huge victory. With the rubber decided England won a low scoring 4th Test, but went down to an innings defeat in the 5th, conceding a 94 run last wicket partnership in the process.

1907 [Scorecards]
After South Africa's triumphant home performance they were awarded three Tests in 1907. They debuted at Lord's against a full strength England side, led by RE Foster, and came up against Braund and Jessop in good form on an excellent batting wicket. South Africa collapsed, and followed on but a fine century from Sherwell (now moved up 10 places in the batting order) allowed them to draw the match when the final day was washed out. The second Test was memorable, with some fine bowling on a rain damaged wicket. England made only 76, with Faulkner, reaching the height of his formidable all-round powers, taking 6/17. Blythe answered for England, bowling magnificently to take 8/59 out of South Africa's 110. Fry played the highest innings of the match with 54, but South Africa needed only 129 to win. Blythe again bowled superbly, taking 7/40 in 23 overs, and bowling a superb line and length, and England won by 53 runs. Blythe had taken 15 wickets for 99 runs, one of the great performances of Test cricket. The final Test was drawn, although without Fry's century, South Africa may well have won. The tour as a whole was a great success, with the googly quartet making a big impression.

1909-10 [Scorecards]
The England tourists of 1909-10 were led by Leveson-Gower, and featured the batting of Hobbs and Woolley although this was not enough. The series is also remarkable for the last appearance of a "lob" bowler in Tests, GHT Simpson-Hayward having a good match in the first Test, taking 6/43 in the South African 1st innings. Vogler and Faulkner shared the wickets in the England innings, and Faulkner went on to follow his 78 in the first innings with a century in the second. Vogler took 7 more wickets (and Faulkner three) as South Africa ran out easy winners. South Africa also won the second Test comprehensively, despite fine batting from Hobbs. Faulkner continued to demonstrate that he was probably the finest all-rounder in the world at this time with 8 wickets, and White took the batting honours with a 2nd innings century. England fought back with a win in a closely contested 3rd Test, Simpson-Hayward taking 5 wickets in the second innings, Denton making a century, and Hobbs with a masterly 93* leading England to victory. Hobbs failed twice in the 4th Test, and with both sides even on first innings, Vogler's 5/72 was crucial, as South Africa won by 4 wickets, and took the rubber. The final Test went to England, as Hobbs made a superb 187, and Blythe found a wicket to suit his bowling. Faulkner capped a superb series with 99 as South Africa followed on, and England won by 9 wickets.

1912 [Scorecards]
South Africa were invited to take part in the first "World Cup" of cricket, the rain ruined Triangular Tournament of 1912. South Africa had a poor tournament, losing heavily twice to Australia and three times to England (encountering SF Barnes for the first time). In the first England Test, Barnes and Foster bowled out South Africa for 58, then Spooner's century was enough to ensure an innings victory. Barnes took 10 wickets in the second Test, and the South African batting failed twice. England won the 3rd Test by 10 wickets, with Woolley joining Barnes as the wicket-takers in the first innings, Hobbs top-scoring for England, and then Barnes at his finest taking 8/29.