Australia's first loss in season opener since 1988

18 Number of consecutive home Tests without a defeat for Australia, before this match. Their last loss was also against South Africa at the WACA, in 2012-13. In the 18 Tests since then, they had won 14 and four were drawn.

1988 When Australia last loss the first Test of the home season. That defeat was against West Indies at the Gabba. Since then, they had won 21 and drawn six in their season starters.

2 Instances of Australia losing the first Test of any home series in the past 25 years. Incidentally, both have been against South Africa and at WACA. They lost defending 414 in 2008-09 and by 177 runs in this match. In 42 other home series since 1990, they won the first match on 32 occasions.

3 Consecutive wins for South Africa at the WACA - joint second-most for them at any away venue. Only in Harare have they had more wins in succession (four). They also had three consecutive wins at Lord's and in Port of Spain.

3 Tests won by South Africa at the WACA - the most by any visiting team in Australia at a particular venue since 1990. In this period, England have won two each in Adelaide, at the MCG and the SCG, and West Indies have also won two in Perth. South Africa's three wins have all been convincing: they successfully chased 414 in 2008-09 and won by 309 runs in 2012-13, before this 177-run victory.

6 South Africa bowlers to take a five-wicket haul in the fourth innings against Australia. Kagiso Rabada's 5 for 92 is the sixth such instance. The last to do so for South Africa in Australia was Fanie de Villiers at the SCG in 1993-94.

17.20 Rabada's average in the three Tests wins he has featured in. He has taken 25 wickets in these three Tests. In his other six Tests - three lost and three drawn - he has taken only 11 wickets at an average of 40.81.