ENGLAND'S hopes of halting the Australian juggernaut disappeared with an all too familiar batting collapse and a series of fielding errors in the second Test today.

Score: England (first innings) 342, Australia 247-2

England had resumed on a promising 295 for four and with high hopes of progressing past 400 but on an action-packed second day at the Adelaide Oval, it was Australia who took charge.

Nasser Hussain's lost their last seven wickets for 47 runs as local hero Jason Gillespie claimed four for 10 in 6.5 overs and Shane Warne chipped in with two for 10.

The tourists' hopes of inflicting similar damage on the Australians were then quickly dashed as Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden forged a century partnership in just 19 overs.

Even the loss of two quick wickets, with Craig White and Richard Dawson dismissing both openers in a three-over spell, failed to slow the momentum as Australia closed on 247 for two.

Yet they were helped along by England once again due to a sub-standard display in the field in which four catches went down. Hayden was missed twice and Damien Martyn was also given two reprieves.

Gillespie sparked England's slide as he made amends for a wicketless first day by striking twice inside the first seven overs.

Mark Butcher became his first victim on the 19th ball of the day when he edged behind to diving wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist.

Alec Stewart then got off the mark by pushing Andy Bichel for two in the next over to claim his first runs of the series after he first career pair in the opening Test defeat at Brisbane.

But while Stewart began to play with confidence, all-rounder White never looked comfortable and fell for one after unwisely hooking Gillespie to Bichel in the deep.

New batsman Dawson resisted for 48 minutes before giving Warne his first wicket of the day when he was trapped lbw and Andrew Caddick was bowled in the spinner's next over attempting to sweep.

It was left to Gillespie to finish off the innings, though, when he was recalled to the attack and trapped Stewart leg before with his first delivery before having Matthew Hoggard caught behind later in the same over.

Australia began their reply showing great intent, with Hoggard conceding 20 runs in his opening four overs before being replaced by Steve Harmison.

The latter almost claimed a wicket with his third ball, with Hayden cutting fiercely only for Butcher to fail to collect a difficult chance above his head.

Caddick also nearly broke through in the next over, failing to collect a difficult return catch from Hayden, who raced to 46 from only 72 balls before his luck ran out and an attempted drive over the top instead looped to mid-on.

Then three overs later Langer fell just two runs short of his half-century when Stewart appealed for a catch behind and he was given out by umpire Steve Bucknor, although television replays indicated he was trapped leg before.

That was the cue for Ponting to play a disciplined but commanding innings, hitting only two boundaries on his way to another half century.

Martyn enjoyed more fortune, being dropped by Stewart off Dawson and then being missed again by the wicketkeeper, who failed to get a glove to an edge off Steve Harmison that raced away for four.

The let-offs allowed Martyn to progress to 48 at the close with Ponting also unbeaten, 17 runs short of adding another fine century to his ton in Brisbane.