Hobart, Nov 16: England were struggling to avoid the follow-on after a batting collapse early on the second day of a three-day tour match against Australia a today.

Needing to make at least 204 after the Australians generously declared their first innings at 353 for three on the first day, England slumped to 116-5 by lunch after resuming on 50-1. Marcus Trescothick, filling in for Nasser Hussain as captain, departed in the second over of the day without adding to his overnight score of five when he edged a ball from fast bowler Brad Williams to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, triggering a collapse that saw the tourists lose 4-66 in the session.

Surrey left-hander Mark Butcher added just 12 runs to his overnight score of 30 when he was caught in the slips by Martin Love, who scored an unbeaten double-century for Australia a the previous day. Robert Key made 36 off 80 balls when he pulled a short ball from Ashley Noffke straight to Nathan Hauritz at mid-on and all-rounder Andrew Flintoff made just one before his off stump was knocked out of the ground by paceman Stuart Clark.

John Crawley batted 69 minutes and survived two confident appeals for leg before wicket to reach the lunch interval not out 10 with new batsman Craig White yet to score and England needing another 88 to avoid the follow-on. Bureau Report