England pick up early wicket after declaration

ADELAIDE, Dec 2 (Reuters) England picked up the early wicket of Justin Langer to reduce Australia to 28 for one after declaring their own innings on 551-6 on day two of the second Ashes test at Adelaide Oval today.

Langer was caught by Kevin Pietersen at gully for four off the bowling of skipper Andrew Flintoff, leaving Matthew Hayden (12 not out) and Ricky Ponting (11 not out) to carry through to stumps.

England declared 40 minutes before the close after Paul Collingwood made 206 and Pietersen 158 to put the tourists in control after they lost the first test by 277 runs.

Collingwood became only the third Englishman, and the first since Wally Hammond 70 years ago, to score a test double-century in Australia.

He also shared a record fourth-wicket partnership of 310 with Pietersen, who equalled his highest test score, as Australia's bowlers struggled to make any impression on a flat pitch with Shane Warne (1-167), Brett Lee (1-139) and Glenn McGrath (0-107) all conceding over 100 runs.

REUTERS PM RAI1350