Pietersen and Collingwood steady ship

England were forced into a rebuilding job after three morning wickets provided Australia with the early initiative on the opening day of the 2009 Ashes.

Experienced duo Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood came together before lunch after left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson bagged two wickets in quick succession.

Having won the toss, Andrew Strauss' England were forced into a new evaluation of their aspirations by the loss of wickets in the opening session. They took the hosts to 141 for three midway through the first afternoon in Cardiff.

It was cat-and-mouse cricket after lunch as Australia captain Ricky Ponting introduced spinner Nathan Hauritz and the batsmen milked runs in singles and twos.

Pietersen began the middle session with two glorious cover drives for four off Ben Hilfenhaus while Collingwood found the midwicket rope with an aerial pull off Peter Siddle.

Australia had the better of the morning thanks to Johnson's double strike in the latter stages.

A tremendous over from Johnson accounted for England captain Strauss (30).

Slower balls outfoxed both Strauss and Ravi Bopara (35) before the former was tucked up by a straight bouncer and looped into the slips off the glove.

Another drop in pace then accounted for Bopara on Johnson's switch of ends as a checked drive ballooned to Phillip Hughes at point.

Earlier, Alastair Cook (10) became the first victim of the npower series in the eighth over when a forcing stroke away from his body was superbly clung to by a diving Michael Hussey in the gully off the bowling of Hilfenhaus.