England in disarray as wickets tumble in Perth

PERTH, Dec 15 (Reuters) England were in disarray after losing four early wickets to slump to 122 for six in their first innings at lunch on the second day of the third Ashes test against Australia today.

The tourists lost Paul Collingwood for 11, Andrew Strauss for 42, Andrew Flintoff for 13 and Geraint Jones for a duck in a disastrous morning after resuming on 51-2 in reply to Australia's modest first-day total of 244.

Kevin Pietersen, who equalled his career-best score of 158 in the second test in Adelaide, was unbeaten on 27 at the interval with recalled seamer Sajid Mahmood not out six with only the tail to come on a lively WACA pitch.

England beat Australia 2-1 at home last year to win the Ashes for the first time since 1987 but face a huge challenge holding on to the tiny urn after losing the first two matches in Brisbane and Adelaide.

They lost the first test after crumbling for 157 in their first innings then the second in Adelaide after a catastrophic last-day batting collapse and there are early signs of a repeat in Perth.

Collingwood was dropped on four just before stumps on Thursday but failed to make the most of his let-off, departing in the fourth over of the morning when he slashed at a wide delivery from Glenn McGrath to Matthew Hayden at gully.

Strauss had posted his highest score of the series after resuming on 24 but was unlucky to be given out caught behind by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist in sight of a half-century.

The left-hander had batted cautiously for almost two hours but chased a wide delivery from Stuart Clark and South African umpire Rudi Koertzen raised his finger although television replays indicated Strauss had missed the ball.

Flintoff, who has scored just 69 runs in the series at an average of 17.25, never looked comfortable in his short stay at the crease.

The England captain played and missed several times and although he picked up two boundaries his luck ran out when he edged medium-pacer Andrew Symonds to Shane Warne at first slip.

Symonds, who was called into the Australian side after the surprise retirement last week of Damien Martyn, grabbed his second wicket when Jones snicked one to Langer at gully to register his first duck in 52 test innings.

England's hopes of getting past or even close to Australia's score appeared to rest with Pietersen, who along with Collingwood has been England's best batsmen of the series.

The big-hitting Pietersen batted 107 minutes and struck four boundaries in his unbeaten 27 but needing the tailenders to stick with him when play resumes after lunch.

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