Bell century lifts England ahead of Ashes

SYDNEY, Nov 18 (Reuters) Ian Bell made 132 and Paul Collingwood 80 in today's tour game against South Australia to raise England's spirits ahead of next week's first Ashes test in Brisbane.

The pair shared a fourth wicket partnership of 178 to rescue the tourists from a shaky start at Adelaide Oval to reach stumps on day two at 303 for six in reply to South Australia's 247-7 declared.

Kevin Pieterson also chipped in with a quick 32 off 35 balls before he was bowled by Jason Gillespie in the last session, leaving England captain Andrew Flintoff (six not out) and wicketkeeper Geraint Jones (14 not out) ready to resume on the third and final day tomorrow.

England's position at the close was much better than they might have expected after they resumed on 24-1, but lost nightwatchman Matthew Hoggard for 10 then new opener Alastair Cook for 12 to slump to 34-3.

Hoggard failed to add to his overnight score when he nicked an outswinger from South Australia's express paceman Shaun Tait to wicketkeeper Shane Deitz.

Then Cook, who was promoted to opener when Marcus Trescothick walked out on the team this week after a bout of depression, was also caught behind when he tried to play a defensive shot off Gillespie and got a thick edge.

Bell and Collingwood, who are both certain to play in next week's first test, survived a hostile spell from Tait and Gillespie before lunch then piled on the runs in the second session when South Australia decided to rest their frontline pacemen and bowl their spinners.

Collingwood, who came in above Pietersen in a possible sneak preview to the batting line-up for Brisbane, was the first to reach his half-century but fell 20 short of his hundred with the total on 212 when he edged leg-spinner Dan Cullen to Deitz.

Bell struck 12 fours and a six in his hundred before he was eventually caught by South Australian skipper Darren Lehmann off Tait, who claimed his third wicket of the innings to boost his chances of making the Australian starting team for Brisbane, before he left the field with cramp.

England paceman Steve Harmison, who withdrew from the match with a side strain, also provided the tourist's with a boost when he spent more than 15 minutes bowling in the nets before the start of the day's play, gradually building up to near full speed.

Flintoff said Harmison had pulled up well after his workout but would get a better indication of his fitness after he wakes up tomorrow morning.

''Injuries for fast bowlers are part and parcel of the job, so we just have to see what happens tomorrow morning,'' Flintoff told reporters.

REUTERS SAM VC1445