Jacques Kallis has scored the most test centuries in the history of the game. He is only the second player with 45 or more centuries. Just like him, some other players like Hashim Amla, Graeme Smith, Ab de Villiers are some batters who scored international centuries across the globe. But some of these batters were also equally effective both at home or away.
We will also talk about such South African batters who had a brilliant record in away test matches, especially for scoring centuries outside South Africa. Notably, a South African batter holds the record for third most centuries in away games in test cricket history.
Most Centuries in Test in Away Matches for South Africa
| Batter | Span | Mts | 100 | Away 100 | Runs | 50 |
| Jacques Kallis | 1995-2013 | 165 | 45 | 22 | 13206 | 58 |
| Greame Smith | 2002-2014 | 116 | 27 | 17 | 9253 | 38 |
| Gary Kirsten | 1993-2004 | 101 | 21 | 13 | 7289 | 34 |
| Hashim Amla | 2004-2019 | 134 | 28 | 12 | 9282 | 41 |
| AB de Villiers | 2004-2018 | 114 | 22 | 9 | 8765 | 46 |
| Daryll Cullinan | 1993-2001 | 70 | 14 | 7 | 4554 | 20 |
| Herschelle Gibbs | 1996-2008 | 90 | 14 | 5 | 6167 | 26 |
| Dean Elgar | 2012-2023 | 84 | 13 | 5 | 5146 | 23 |
| Ashwell Prince | 2002-2011 | 66 | 11 | 4 | 3665 | 11 |
| Dudley Nourse | 1935-1951 | 34 | 9 | 3 | 2960 | 14 |
5. AB de Villiers – 9 Test Centuries
Former Superstar AB de Villiers was considered as one of the best player that played in the white-ball cricket. But his red-ball record was equally impressive. De Villiers played 114 tests and scored 8765 runs at 50.66 with 22 centuries with a best of 278 not out. In his career, he scored nine hundreds at home and 13 came outside South Africa.
4. Hashim Amla – 12 Test Centuries
Hashim Amla was another batting icon that represented South Africa across formats. He scored 55 international centuries in his career which is second highest for South Africa. Amla played 124 tests and scored 9282 runs at 46.64 and is the only triple centurioun (311 not out). Amla scored 28 test centuries and 16 of them came at home while other 12 came in abroad.
3. Gary Kirsten – 13 Test Centuries
Former opening batter Gary Kirsten makes third on the list. A left-handed batter who was not gifted with a better technique, but his temperament made him a key batter. For those, who doesn’t know him, he was the coach of the Indian team when India won the 2011 ODI World Cup. Kirsten played 101 tests and was the first player to play 100 test for his country. He scored 21 centuries and 13 came outside South Africa.
2. Graeme Smith – 17 Test Centuries
Former captain Graeme Smith, who is the only captain with more than 50 test wins in history. Smith is the only captain who has led his country to over 100 tests, 109 in total. He was also a brilliant batter at the top of the order. In 117 tests, he scored 9265 runs at 48.25 with 27 centuries and 38 half-centuries. 17 of his 27 hundreds came outside the country.
1. Jacques Kallis – 22 Test Centuries
Former star and one of the greatest all-rounder to play the game, Jacques Kallis tops this elite list of batters. Whether it was ODIs or Tests, Kallis was a prolific run-scorer and certainly the most impactful player from his team. He played 165 tests and scored 13206 runs with 45 centuries and 273 wickets. Kallis is the only player in history with 13000-plus runs and 250-plus wickets in tests. He scored 23 home and 22 away test centuries.