The England cricket team toured South Africa in 2004–05. England won the five-Test series 2–1, achieving their first series win in South Africa for 40 years, when MJK Smith's side were victorious in 1964–65; however, South Africa won the seven-match ODI series 4–1, one match finishing as a tie and the other as "no result".
The Test series saw the awarding of the inaugural Basil D'Oliveira Trophy, named for the South Africa-born England cricketer Basil D'Oliveira.
Background
England went into the series having won all seven Test matches they played during the English summer, demolishing the West Indies and New Zealand.