LANCASHIRE'S Jimmy Anderson hit an heroic unbeaten 21 as England defied the odds to draw against Australia in the first Ashes Test.

Australia looked to be on course for victory and had England 70-5 but Paul Collingwood's defiant 74 frustrated the tourists and England eventually escaped. They were on 252-9 when time ran out and the last pair survived for 11 overs and three balls.

Earlier England lost their star batsman and captain in a disastrous start to 'Survival Sunday'.

Two poor pieces of judgment accounted for Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Strauss as England gifted the Australians two early successes.

Pietersen trudged off after just a quarter-of-an-hour when he declined to play a delivery from Ben Hilfenhaus, having originally shaped to, and had his off-stump flattened.

England were left reeling on 46 for four in off-spinner Nathan Hauritz's second over as Strauss attempted a cut at a ball he had no reason to play.

Having just struck the first boundary of the morning the previous delivery from a cut, an attempted repeat of the stroke to one which turned resulted in a fine edge through to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

Matt Prior was next to go, caught by Michael Clarke off the bowling of Hauritz, while Andrew Flintoff made 26 before being caught by Ricky Ponting off the bowling of Mitchell Johnson. Stuart Broad was trapped lbw by Hauritz for 14.

Graeme Swann made 31 before going lbw to Hilfenhaus, but Anderson and Monty Panesar (7no) remained undefeated.

England began the day on 20 for two, and were required to make a further 219 runs to make Australia bat again.