Nightmare start for England

England slumped into trouble in the fourth Ashes Test today after struggling to cope with their disrupted build-up and lost six wickets before lunch on the opening day at Headingley.

Leading 1-0 in the npower series with two Tests remaining, any momentum England had gained in the earlier battles this summer quickly disappeared even before the start. All-rounder Andrew Flintoff was ruled out with his long-standing knee problems, while wicketkeeper Matt Prior almost joined him on the sidelines after suffering a back spasm playing football and needed a late fitness test to retain his place.

That disruption undermined England's preparation and, after winning the toss and deciding to bat, they slipped to 72 for six at lunch with Australia's all-seam line-up causing havoc.

Captain Andrew Strauss had put faith in his batting line-up despite entering the match with five bowlers once again, bringing in Steve Harmison instead of a specialist batsman to replace Flintoff.

It was a decision that quickly backfired, with Strauss, fortunate to survive a strong lbw appeal from swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus off the first ball of the match, falling in the fourth over.

Pushing outside off-stump to seamer Peter Siddle, Strauss was brilliantly caught one-handed by Marcus North at third slip to earn Australia, who recalled Stuart Clark as a replacement for off-spinner Nathan Hauritz, an early breakthrough.

Three overs later they claimed their second success of the morning session with Ravi Bopara continuing his disappointing Ashes series by falling for one after fending a Hilfenhaus short ball to gully.

Left-arm seamer Mitchell Johnson, who noticeably struggled with his line and length during the opening two Tests but improved at Edgbaston, then surprised Ian Bell with a sharply-rising bouncer, which he could only fend behind to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

Clark, playing his first Test in nine months following an elbow operation, responded by claiming three for five in 21 balls during an inspired spell.

Quickly finding his rhythm to bowl a nagging line and length, Clark tempted both Paul Collingwood and Alastair Cook into pushing outside off-stump and edging to the slips. He claimed his third wicket in the final over before lunch when Stuart Broad, now promoted to number seven because of Flintoff's absence, clipped off his legs straight to Simon Katich at short leg.