| Series Name: | English cricket team in South Africa in 2009–10 |
| Team1 Image: | Flag of South Africa.svg |
| Team1 Name: | South Africa |
| Team2 Image: | Flag of England.svg |
| Team2 Name: | England |
| From Date: | 6 November 2009 |
| To Date: | 18 January 2010 |
| Team1 Captain: | Graeme Smith |
| Team2 Captain: | Andrew Strauss (Tests & ODIs) Paul Collingwood (T20Is) |
| No Of Tests: | 4 |
| Team1 Tests Won: | 1 |
| Team2 Tests Won: | 1 |
| Team1 Tests Most Runs: | Graeme Smith (427) |
| Team2 Tests Most Runs: | Paul Collingwood (344) |
| Team1 Tests Most Wickets: | Morne Morkel (19) |
| Team2 Tests Most Wickets: | Graeme Swann (21) |
| Player Of Test Series: | Mark Boucher (SA) Graeme Swann (Eng) |
| No Of Odis: | 5 |
| Team1 Odis Won: | 1 |
| Team2 Odis Won: | 2 |
| Team1 Odis Most Runs: | Alviro Petersen (166) |
| Team2 Odis Most Runs: | Paul Collingwood (193) |
| Team1 Odis Most Wickets: | Wayne Parnell (5) |
| Team2 Odis Most Wickets: | James Anderson (8) |
| Player Of Odi Series: | Paul Collingwood (Eng) |
| No Of Twenty20s: | 2 |
| Team1 Twenty20s Won: | 1 |
| Team2 Twenty20s Won: | 1 |
| Team1 Twenty20s Most Runs: | Loots Bosman (152) |
| Team2 Twenty20s Most Runs: | Eoin Morgan (95) |
| Team1 Twenty20s Most Wickets: | Ryan McLaren (4) |
| Team2 Twenty20s Most Wickets: | Luke Wright (2) Sajid Mahmood (2) |
The England cricket team toured South Africa for a four-match Test series, a five-match One Day International (ODI) series and two Twenty20 Internationals between 6 November 2009 and 18 January 2010. The tour was balanced throughout, with both the Twenty20 International and Test series being drawn, and England narrowly winning the ODI series 2 - 1.
By levelling the Test series with victory in the final Test, South Africa retained the Basil D'Oliveira Trophy they had earnt in England in 2008.[1] Despite the decision made in 2008 to grant Test series between South Africa and England "icon" status, and thus comprise five Test matches and only three ODI matches, the tour retained the previous balance of four Tests and five ODIs.[2]
A quiet, friendly series erupted with controversy in the third and fourth Tests of the series. On the third day of the third Test, television images showed Stuart Broad standing on the ball, and fellow England pace-bowler James Anderson picking at the leather of the ball, causing South Africa to raise concerns about the condition of the ball, and the actions of the England duo. After some delay, the South African team announced that they were not making an official complaint to the International Cricket Council (ICC),[3] who in turn confirmed that the matter was closed.[4] In the fourth Test, after an apparent nick by Graeme Smith was taken by wicket-keeper Matt Prior, the umpire Tony Hill turned down the appeal, and third umpire Daryl Harper upheld Hill's decision on review. However, TV replays showed an audible noise as the ball passed the bat. England announced that they would lodge an official complaint with the ICC,[5] with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) asking for the review to be reinstated. The ICC defended Harper, but said that it would launch a "full and comprehensive investigation" into the incident after the match.[6]