It had all looked so positive yesterday.

Typically, though, England have again managed to deliver another anti-climax with the Ashes now perilously close to slipping from their grasp.

The tourists started the second day of the crucial Third Test at 51 for two, having dismissed Australia for a paltry 244.

But the tide has turned once more with Andrew Flintoff's men shot out for just 215 following a dismal showing in Perth, their misery compounded as the hosts then racked up a quickfire 119-1 in their second innings.

The Aussies now lead by 148 runs with skipper Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden - both unbeaten on 57 - looking ominously in charge over night.

England had shown some dog earlier on with Kevin Pieterson contributing a well-fashioned 70 and Steve Harmison (23) and Monty Panesar (16no) frustrating the locals with a gutsy last-wicket stand of 40.

Tellingly, though, that was England's biggest pairing of the innings and Australia soon got over the hold-up.

Paul Collingwood fell to Glenn McGrath in only the fourth over of the response to dent England's hopes of forging a lead.

When his overnight partner Andrew Strauss (42) fell soon after, caught behind to Stuart Clarke, they were fatally wounded although the opener was unlucky to walk with television replays proving inconclusive.

The middle order perished cheaply once more, Lancashire's Andrew Symonds the surprise marksman, grabbing two wickets - Flintoff and Geraint Jones - inside only three overs.

The latter suffered the first duck of his Test career having driven to gully. That left Pietersen alone with the tail but he was reined in until Matthew Hoggard and Sajid Mahmood had gone.

Joined by Harmison, the Hampshire ace began to unfurl some big shots, walloping Shane Warne for 15 off one over although he was dropped over the rope by McGrath on 53.

He went on to make 70 before his attempted pull off Brett Lee fell to Symonds.

The last pair then hung around for 40 minutes and, although Hoggard rocketed into Justin Langer's stumps with the first ball of the Australia's reply, Ponting and Hayden soon took control.It had all looked so positive yesterday.

Typically, though, England have again managed to deliver another anti-climax with the Ashes now perilously close to slipping from their grasp.

The tourists started the second day of the crucial Third Test at 51-2, having dismissed Australia for a paltry 244.

But the tide has turned once more with Andrew Flintoff's men shot out for just 215 following a dismal showing in Perth, their misery compounded as the hosts then racked up a quickfire 119-1 in their second innings.

The Aussies now lead by 148 runs with skipper Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden - both unbeaten on 57 - looking ominously in charge over night.

England had shown some dog earlier on with Kevin Pieterson contributing a well-fashioned 70 and Steve Harmison (23) and Monty Panesar (16no) frustrating the locals with a gutsy last-wicket stand of 40.

Tellingly, though, that was England's biggest pairing of the innings and Australia soon got over the hold-up.

Paul Collingwood fell to Glenn McGrath in only the fourth over of the response to dent England's hopes of forging a lead.

When his overnight partner Andrew Strauss (42) fell soon after, caught behind to Stuart Clarke, they were fatally wounded although the opener was unlucky to walk with television replays proving inconclusive.

The middle order perished cheaply once more, Lancashire's Andrew Symonds the surprise marksman, grabbing two wickets - Flintoff and Geraint Jones - inside only three overs.

The latter suffered the first duck of his Test career having driven to gully. That left Pietersen alone with the tail but he was reined in until Matthew Hoggard and Sajid Mahmood had gone.

Joined by Harmison, the Hampshire ace began to unfurl some big shots, walloping Shane Warne for 15 off one over although he was dropped over the rope by McGrath on 53.

He went on to make 70 before his attempted pull off Brett Lee fell to Symonds.

The last pair then hung around for 40 minutes and, although Hoggard rocketed into Justin Langer's stumps with the first ball of the Australia's reply, Ponting and Hayden soon took control.