South Africa's batting landmarks in Australia have been noteworthy and have also been the cornerstones of famous draws and wins.Some match-saving knocks came from the unlikeliest of sources and produced results that were far from expected.Here are five memorable South African Test knocks from tours down under: Jonty Rhodes, 76* in Sydney - 1994Why this innings?
Well, on a turning Sydney Cricket Ground surface where the late, great Shane Warne took 12 wickets, this knock was gold dust.It allowed the Proteas to post 239 in their second innings after a pitiful 169 in the first dig.
This left Australia, who made 292 in their first innings, with what looked like a small matter of 117 to win.In the 1980s and right up to the 2000s, Australia were never comfortable with small chases and this one proved to be a nightmare relived through Fanie de Villiers's 6/43.South Africa won by five runs, and while De Villiers' 10-wicket haul is rightfully remembered, it wouldn't have happened without Rhodes's minor epic that had major ramifications.South Africa wouldn't win a Test again in Australia for 14 years and they haven't won at the SCG since.Jacques Kallis, 101 in Melbourne - 1997This was the innings that graduated Kallis from an imposter into a genuine batting contender.
Kallis had shown glimpses of ability throughout 1997 when he was entrusted with the troublesome number three spot despite his young age.With 381 being a mile away when he walked in at 1/1 after Gary Kirsten fell to Paul Reiffel in the sixth over on the fourth evening, Kallis batted for 91 overs, fashioning a 279-ball knock that only had six fours and an all-run four that raised his maiden Test ton.It proved to be his only fourth innings 100 out of the 45 he went on