Duncan Fletcher expressed his frustration after bad weather again washed out England's plans to give fringe players an opportunity to impress.

Heavy rain throughout the day forced the opening match of the NatWest Triangular Series against New Zealand at Old Trafford to be abandoned about 6pm the first England one-day international to be completely washed out on home soil since New Zealand came to Lord's in 1994.

Fletcher, attempting to build a side capable of challenging for the ICC Champions Trophy in September, planned to use this two-week tournament as an important warm-up for the bigger challenges ahead.

But he was frustrated by the bad weather and a sixth washout in the last 10 scheduled matches for England.

It denied the younger members of the squad vital experience as they prepare for this September's big tournament and the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean.

And it also prevented Fletcher seeing his side without the inspirational Andrew Flintoff, who has been ruled out of the tournament after sustaining a foot injury while bowling in the final Test victory at Trent Bridge.

Fletcher explained: "We keep wanting these guys to get some experience and there was an opportunity to see the team without Andrew Flintoff.

"Somewhere along the line we have to believe Andrew is not going to be playing all the time for us and we just want someone to fill that gap.''