Australia's Stuart Clark (left) celebrates after taking the wicket of Alastair Cook. Tom Shaw / Getty Images
ADELAIDE - England made a shaky start in the second Ashes test, losing both openers in quick succession to slump to 58 for two at lunch on the first day at Adelaide Oval on Friday.
Andrew Strauss departed for 14 in the first over after the drinks break
and Alastair Cook went for 27, leaving Ian Bell (nine not out) and Paul Collingwood (eight not out) to battle through to the end of the session.
Australia fast bowler Stuart Clark captured both wickets to lift his total for the series to nine after picking up seven in the hosts' 277-run victory in Brisbane.
He made the initial breakthrough in his second over with the total on 32 when Strauss miscued an attempted flick and chipped the ball straight to Damien Martyn at mid-on, who took the catch diving forward.
Clark, 31, struck again in his fifth over when Cook played away from a ball that was angled across his body and got a faint edge to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist.
The two wickets spoiled what had otherwise been an encouraging start for England after Andrew Flintoff won the toss and elected to bat first on Australia's friendliest batting pitch.
Strauss and Cook safely negotiated the first hour, seeing off Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath's opening spells, before losing their concentration.
Both teams retained the same starting line-ups that played in the series opener in Brisbane despite speculation that changes were likely.
McGrath was cleared to play after injuring his heel in Brisbane while England resisted the temptation to add Monty Panesar as a second spinner at the expense of one of the seamers.
- REUTERS
