Rain ruled in Johannesburg as the opening game of the one-day series between South Africa and England at The Wanderers was washed out.

Not a ball was bowled in the day-night contest with umpires Marais Erasmus and Rod Tucker calling off proceedings at 5pm local time.

Heavy rain had hit the area in the build-up to the game and further downpours continued during Friday, leaving standing water on parts of the outfield.

Having drawn the Twenty20 series 1-1, Proteas coach Mickey Arthur admitted the hosts were left kicking their heels at the bad weather.

Frustrating

"It is very frustrating. We were looking forward to getting stuck into the series," he said.

"We felt we picked up good momentum in the Standard Bank Pro20 Series, and our players are raring to go."

The abandonment means Paul Collingwood will have to wait to overtake Alec Stewart and become England's most-capped ODI player.

The Durham all-rounder will hope the weather allows him to make a record 171st appearance on Sunday, in the second one-dayer at Centurion.

The tourists will still be without injured duo Stuart Broad (shoulder) and Graeme Swann (side) at the weekend.

The two teams then move on to Cape Town for a day-night affair on November 27 before playing in Port Elizabeth on November 29. The five-match series concludes in Durban on December 4.