England in disarray as Pietersen and Flintoff fall

BRISBANE, Nov 25 (Reuters) Australia dismissed Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff in successive overs to leave England in disarray on 118 for five at lunch on the third day of the opening Ashes test today.

Glenn McGrath trapped Pietersen lbw for 16 and Brett Lee had Flintoff caught behind by Adam Gilchrist for a duck as the tourists crashed to 78-5 in the first hour at the Gabba.

Ian Bell (41 not out) and wicketkeeper Geraint Jones (19 not out) survived the second hour to make it through to lunch but England are still 484 behind Australia's 602-9 and needing another 285 just to avoid the follow-on.

England resumed at the Gabba in deep trouble on 53 for three and their hopes of mounting a fightback to get close to Australia's massive total were dealt a huge blow when they lost their two biggest dangermen.

Pietersen had a lucky escape on 12 when he skied a pull off Lee to mid-on and paceman Stuart Clark failed to take the catch after losing his balance as he ran back to get underneath it.

But Pietersen's good fortune deserted him shortly after when he was given out lbw to McGrath without offering a shot to a ball that pitched outside off stump and darted back.

Flintoff survived his first two deliveries from McGrath but the Australians spread the field for Lee's next over to allow Bell to get off strike and give Australia's fastest bowler a crack at the England skipper.

The plan paid off immediately as Lee charged in at full pace and Flintoff instinctively poked at a ball outside off stump to provide Gilchrist with a regulation catch.

Bell and Jones survived several loud appeals from the Australians in a determined 71-minute partnership worth 39 runs.

Jones might have had at least three more runs after he latched on to full-blooded sweep off Warne that hit umpire Billy Bowden at square leg.

Bowden tried to evade the shot but reacted too slowly and was struck on the hip and knocked over. He was uninjured but the impact took the pace off the ball and Jones had to settle for a single.

REUTERS YA PM0804