Australia have won their last three Tests there in 2006, 2009 and on the ill-fated 2018 tour, before which South Africa had claimed a five-wicket win in 2002.
In all, the teams have met at the venue on 11 occasions, with Australia winning six of those and South Africa three, with only two draws.
Australia’s last three wins since 2006 have all come in similar fashion, winning the toss, batting first and claiming victory by 112, 175 and 118 runs respectively.
On a wicket expected to take turn, who bats first could again be crucial, making the toss possibly a decisive factor in this game.
Aside from their 2002 win, achieved by five wickets, South Africa claimed back-to-back victories over the tourists by eight wickets and an innings and 129 runs in 1967 and 1970, when they had the better of the Australians.
South Africa looked good for a win in 1994 before Mark Waugh (113 not out) and Allan Border (42 not out) put on an unbeaten 140 for the fifth wicket to halt their victory march.
It is statistically Australia’s second-favourite ground in South Africa after Newlands, where they have won 10 of their 14 Tests and there has never been a draw. They have also won six out of 12 at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, while their least-favourite venue is St George’s Park in Gqeberha, scene of the second Test before the series finishes in Cape Town.
Australia have a 55% win record in Durban and have lost 27% of the time, while their overall win rate in South Africa at all venues is 54%, with a loss rate of 30%.
The disastrous 2018 tour that saw them lose three Tests in a row after ‘Sandpapergate’ at Newlands started, at least, with a win … in Durban.