The bad weather has washed out the fourth day of the final Test at Centurion Park - but South Africa have rejected a call from England to play a limited overs game instead.

Rain again prevented any action at the start of the day and following a pitch inspection at 11:00 GMT, the umpires decided to abandon play for the day.

England captain Nasser Hussain offered the South Africans the chance to play a day-night fixture on Tuesday to make up for the fact that no play had been possible since Friday following heavy downpours.

But the United Cricket Board of South Africa and match referee Barry Jarman rejected the proposal.

"There are practical problems involved," UCB supremo Dr Ali Bacher said. "We have contractural obligations we would have to sort out.

"Both groundsmen say they think it is fit to play, but we have gone back to the umpires and conveyed to them what they have said."

South African skipper Hansie Cronje is believed to have put Hussain's suggestion to his team - but they chose to carry on the Test rather than gain some one-day practice.

Match referee Jarman said: "It's not my position to call the game off. The game is in the umpires' hands, and whatever they say goes.

"From what we have seen out there, it is not going to be possible to play unless you play spinners from both ends. It is very soft underneath, and with the water table coming up so far I couldn't see it getting any better."

BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew said there may have been fears that abandoning the Test and replacing it with a limited overs fixture would set a dangerous precedent for the international game.

But England strike bowler Darren Gough, for one, wanted to take part in a one-day match.

"I can't see us getting out there today - there's more rain in the air," he said.

"We're obviously not going to get a result in the Test and I think we should play a one-day game.

"It would be good for the crowd. Some people have paid up to £5,000 to come out here and watch the match, so we should give them some action."

Less than one day's play has been possible in Centurion - and the players have been off the pitch since Friday evening.

Meanwhile, Northamptonshire's Graeme Swann has been fined £250 for sleeping in on the first day of the Test.

Swann missed the team bus and arrived at Centurion Park 45 minutes late.