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England stumble after good start England battle back in Adelaide
(about 3 hours later)
England began the second Ashes Test well but were under pressure by lunch after losing both opening batsmen. Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood shared an unbroken stand of 99 to put England back on course against Australia on day one of the second Ashes Test.
After a watchful first hour, Andrew Strauss (14) and Alastair Cook (27) both fell to Stuart Clark. Both men reached 50 in the final over before tea in Adelaide, which they took with England 144-2.
By lunch in Adelaide the tourists were 58-2, with Ian Bell unbeaten on nine and Paul Collingwood eight not out. After a watchful first hour, openers Andrew Strauss (14) and Alastair Cook (27) both fell to Stuart Clark.
Both teams went unchanged, England again ignoring Monty Panesar while Glenn McGrath overcame a a heel problem to play for Australia. England, who won the toss, again ignored Monty Panesar while Glenn McGrath overcame a heel problem.
At a venue where Australia have not been bowled out for less than 400 on their last seven occasions batting first, captain Andrew Flintoff's biggest job of the day was calling the toss correctly. At a venue where Australia have not been bowled out for less than 400 on their last seven occasions batting first, England are nowhere near finishing the job.
He first had to speak to Monty Panesar, informing him that despite speculation they would play with two spinners, England would in fact be unchanged. Had openers Strauss and Cook built on the foundations they had laid during a watchful first hour, the tourists could have been out of reach.
However, the fourth-wicket duo were in a similar position to capitalise by tea, and knew they must do so before the second new ball was due in 22 overs' time.
Although he arrived nine overs later Collingwood overtook Bell, mainly because of his willingness to work the ball for ones and twos.
Bell was certainly not happy against Shane Warne but managed to get in the way of most of what the leg-spinner had to offer, including the occasional googly.
Their slow run-rate was down to some good bowling by all but Brett Lee, some reluctance to cut loose after last week's opening collapse and the dimensions of this ground.
Shots steered behind square or driven through the covers or midwicket often brought just three rather than the usual boundary.
After a suffocating period of play around the lunch break, Australia's decision to go back to Lee released the pressure somewhat, with 10 runs coming off his first over.
Collingwood cut him for four to take the stand past 50 in 113 balls.
Having hit 96 in the second innings in Brisbane, he reached his own half century from 114 deliveries.
And Bell followed him next ball, the 140th he had faced.
Before winning the all-important toss, Andrew Flintoff first job of the day was to tell Panesar that England would be unchanged, with Ashley Giles their sole spinner.
"It's tempting to change the side but we thought the balance was right and it's just a case of performing," Flintoff said."It's tempting to change the side but we thought the balance was right and it's just a case of performing," Flintoff said.
They performed for the first hour, at least, but their failure to score runs as they settled in meant when wickets came they were suddenly under real pressure.They performed for the first hour, at least, but their failure to score runs as they settled in meant when wickets came they were suddenly under real pressure.
Strauss had worked on the pull shot that saw him dismissed twice in the opening Test, starting the shot higher and getting on top of the delivery.Strauss had worked on the pull shot that saw him dismissed twice in the opening Test, starting the shot higher and getting on top of the delivery.
McGrath helped him a little as he regularly failed to top 80mph, despite assurances from captain Ricky Ponting that he was 100% after a heel problem. Cook looked more assured, although he only just survived on one, when an edge off Lee fell just in front of keeper Adam Gilchrist.
After seeing Alastair Cook - on one - edge just in front of keeper Adam Gilchrist, McGrath was clearly troubled by his left boot, continually adjusting the lacing. Clark's arrival changed England's fortunes, though as, three balls after the drinks break, Strauss played around his front pad and lobbed a catch to mid-on.
Brett Lee, who opened the attack, was speedy but inconsistent in his opening burst and England were ready to open up when Clark joined the attack.
But in just his second over, three balls after the drinks break, Strauss played around his front pad and lobbed a catch to mid-on.
When Cook edged a ball that moved slightly off the seam Clark, in his sixth Test, had taken 2-7 in five overs.When Cook edged a ball that moved slightly off the seam Clark, in his sixth Test, had taken 2-7 in five overs.
By that time, Shane Warne was already in the attack, demonstrating his pre-match assertion that he is "all over" Bell, beating the bat time and again.
Collingwood, fresh from his 96 in the second innings in Brisbane, looked assured from the off, although there was an anxious moment when he top-edged a hook off Clark.