England soon discovered they must work hard for any remaining Australian wickets after taking three in the first three overs of the second Ashes Test.

The tourists made an astounding start, at a venue renowned for huge first-innings totals, by reducing Australia to a stunning two for three after Ricky Ponting won the toss in glorious conditions.

The Australia captain went for a first-ball duck at the Adelaide Oval, one of James Anderson's two victims, but then saw Shane Watson (50no) and Michael Hussey repair some of the early damage in an unbroken stand of 92 on the way to a lunchtime 94 for three.

Expectations were high for a huge first-innings score at this venue synonymous with 500-plus totals over the first three days.

Instead, England struck with the fourth ball of the match.

Anderson appealed loudly for lbw against Watson. That inquiry went unanswered, but in the confusion Watson called Simon Katich through for a single - and Jonathan Trott pounced for a direct hit from square-leg to run the left-hander out, without facing a ball.

Number three Ponting strode out, and trooped back off, in little more than a minute.

Anderson got an outswinger in the perfect spot to any new batsman, and Ponting edged low to second slip - where Graeme Swann took a neat catch away to his left. It was Ponting's fifth golden duck in his 150th Test, and a major shock to this sell-out crowd.

Stuart Broad consolidated the start made by Anderson, with his first over from the Cathedral end, beating Michael Clarke twice on the outside.

An over later, Anderson struck again, an out-of-form Clarke edging an attempted drive for a second catch to Swann.