Panesar shines as England seize control

PERTH, Dec 14 (Reuters) Monty Panesar celebrated his belated introduction to the Ashes by capturing three wickets to help England seize the early initiative in the third test today.

Australia struggled to 184 for six at tea on the opening day, Panesar dismissing Justin Langer, Andrew Symonds and Adam Gilchrist after England's selectors bowed to pressure and dropped Ashley Giles following defeats in the first two matches.

Steve Harmison, hopelessly erratic in the opening two tests, rediscovered his form to grab the prize wickets of Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke, and the reliable Matthew Hoggard made the initial breakthrough to get rid of Matthew Hayden.

Most of the Australian batsmen made starts but none were able to go on and build a big score, with the possible exception of Mike Hussey, who was unbeaten on 46 at tea and just four runs away from his fourth successive half-century of the series.

Panesar was controversially overlooked for the first two tests but was finally given his chance when the selectors dumped Giles and replaced seamer James Anderson with Sajid Mahmood in the hope of fighting their way back into the series.

Panesar made an immediate impact when he captured a wicket with his seventh delivery, bowling Langer for 37 with the last ball before lunch.

The left-arm spinner claimed a second scalp before tea when Symonds nicked a catch to wicketkeeper Geraint Jones on 26 then a third when Adam Gilchrist was caught in close by Ian Bell for a duck.

Australia had made a flying start after winning the toss on a bright and sunny day in Perth with Langer and Hayden scoring at almost a run a minute for the first three-quarters of an hour before England's seamers struck twice in quick succession to put the brakes on.

Hoggard, England's most successful bowler in the first two tests, got rid of Hayden for 24 when he found the edge and Jones held a routine catch.

Then Harmison, who had taken just one wicket for the series, rediscovered his line and length at the perfect time to trap Ponting lbw for two before the in-form Australian skipper had got his eye in.

Harmison got a second wicket after lunch when he held a sharp return one-handed catch off Clarke on 37 to break a 52-run partnership with Hussey.

Hussey also shared a 51-run stand with Symonds, who smashed two sixes in one over off Panesar, before the bearded Sikh dismissed Symonds and Gilchrist to put the tourists in control.

REUTERS SAM RK1340