The ego has crash-landed, as Kevin Pietersen became part of England’s top-order collapse on day three of the third Test against Australia on Saturday.

England reached 4-116 at lunch in reply to Australia’s first innings of 9-570 declared.

Resuming on 1-35, England lost the wickets of Joe Root (15), Pietersen (four) and Michael Carberry (60).

Root and Pietersen contributed to their own downfalls with over-aggressive shots.

England’s leading batsman Ian Bell is 29 not out with debutant Ben Stokes yet to score on a flat Adelaide Oval batting track.

Spinner Nathan Lyon was introduced for the seventh over of the day with four close-in fielders including two slips.

Lyon struck in his second over when Root top-edged a sweep to deep backward square leg.

It was the first ball Lyon had bowled to Root, who appeared to have decided to attack Lyon from the outset.

Pietersen, who owns the biggest ego in world cricket, advanced down the pitch to paceman Peter Siddle and arrogantly chipped a catch to one of two fielders at short mid-wicket.

George Bailey juggled the chance at chest height before it finally settled in his hands at 3-66.

Siddle had beaten the bat with his previous delivery and Pietersen was determined not to be dominated. However it was Siddle who finished on top again, claiming the 101-Test veteran’s wicket for the eighth time, two more than any other bowler.

England batting great Geoff Boycott had seen enough by the time Pietersen departed.

“Shocking shot … Absolute shocker. The Ashes are going,” Boycott said on the BBC.

“If I were you I’d go to sleep if I were in England.”

Worse was to come for Boycott as Carberry smashed a pull shot to forward square leg off Shane Watson’s bowling. David Warner took a diving left-handed catch with the score on 111, which is considered to England’s unlucky number.