Cricket: NATTER'S GOOD FOR BATTERS; THE SECOND TEST Frank talk pays off for England.

Byline: By Peter Cranston

PAUL COLLINGWOOD was a star with the bat again for England on day one of the Second Test in Adelaide - but Andrew Flintoff is the man to thank for their renewed optimism.

Ian Bell revealed last night how a players' meeting, organised by their skipper two days ago, helped the tourists bounce back after their 277-run defeat in the series opener at Brisbane.

The get-together seemed to do the trick yesterday with England recovering from 45 for two to reach a promising 266 for three by the close and Collingwood unbeaten on 98.

Bell, who scored a determined 60 and shared a crucial 113-run fourth-wicket stand with the Durham all-rounder, said: "It was a bit of honesty to say we weren't good enough at Brisbane and that came from everyone.

"It was the captain's idea and all the players spoke. It was a good thing.

"We are here to play the best team in the world and sometimes you can go through things with mediocrity and say it was good enough.

"But we had to be honest and say we weren't good enough in Brisbane.We all said that and we all wanted to come here and show what good cricketers we are."

England enjoyed their best day of the series with Flintoff winning the toss and Collingwood battling away at the crease to ensure they finished the day on top.

Collingwood, dismissed for 96 in the second innings of the first Test, also shared an unbroken 108-run partnership with Kevin Pietersen (60no) but ran out of time in his race to record his first Ashes century.

Bell said: "I hope he sleeps well. He deserves it because he's played really well. He played really well at the Gabba and played exactly the same here.

"The great thing about this England team is we enjoy each other's success. And we were dead keen for Paul to go out and get a hundred - especially after getting 96 in the last Test."

Australia were frustrated at their failure to make greater inroads after seamer Stuart Clark saw off openers Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook before lunch.

Clark was the pick of Australia's attack, finishing with two for 25. But he was given only 15 overs as captain Ricky Ponting instead relied on Shane Warne, Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath, who passed a fitness test on his bruised left heel.

Clark said: "It's disappointing not to bowl more overs. You can't get them out when you're standing at fine leg and it's very boring down there sometimes.

"Ricky went down a different path and had different ideas but I'm sure I'll get my turn tomorrow.

"We definitely still think we're in the game. It was always going to be hard work today - and if we'd won the toss we'd have batted as well."

Meanwhile, England's strike bowler Steve Harmison is ready to consign his nightmare display in Brisbane to history.

Harmison, who returned match figures of just one for 177 in the first Test, said: "I'm man enough to hold my hands up. I would never purposely go out and let my team down.

"I am confident I can go out there and the real Steve Harmison will turn up this time."

CAPTION(S):

RUN FUN: Collingwood and Pietersen are looking good