Which trophy do England and south Africa play for in test cricket?

Answer 1

It is a common misconception that when England and Australia compete against each other in a Cricket Test Match series they are competing for the Ashes urn as the trophy.

In fact England compete with Australia for a Waterford Crystal Urn Trophy which was designed to symbolise the original "Ashes" urn, that was given to the England captain Ivo Bligh as a gift after his successful tour of Australia.

The original wooden Ashes Urn has never been the official trophy for the test series between England and Australia, although many English and Australian fans believe that it is the small wooden urn, that should be the real trophy for the test series between their countries.

For a detailed account of the Ashes story and folklore see

http://www.lords.org/history/the-ashes

Answer 2

It's the Basil D'Oliveira Trophy, named after the South African born England cricketer of the 1960s and '70s.