Washout in Johannesburg

England team director Andy Flower, centre, involved in forlorn discussions with groundstaff and the umpires in the morning

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England’s opening match of the one-day international series against South Africa was abandoned due to persistent rain at the Wanderers today.

The game was officially declared a washout by umpires Marais Erasmus and Rod Tucker at 3pm GMT.

Such has been the level of rainfall in Johannesburg - 40mm in the last three days - that the umpires did not wait around until 6.25pm GMT, the cut-off point for a reduced 20-over match.

The unfortunate no result means that Paul Collingwood and James Tredwell will not achieve their respective career landmarks until at least Sunday, when the teams reconvene for the second match in Centurion.

Collingwood is in line to become an unlikely record-breaker as England’s most-capped ODI player - needing one more appearance to surpass Alec Stewart’s 170.

Tredwell, flown out two days ago as cover for injured spinner Graeme Swann, will now hope to make his senior international debut at SuperSport Park.

There are three further matches in the series at Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban.