SUSSEX skipper Chris Adams surveyed the wreckage of England's first innings collapse in Johannesburg and said: "We're not out of it yet."

Following a torrid baptism in Test cricket, Adams, who scored 16 before falling to an unfortunate leg-side catch, said: "It was a bad toss to lose and a good one to win.

"Conditions were not good for us, the wicket being very green early on, but we're still in there fighting.

"Vaughan and Flintoff have given us something to bowl at and we're not out of the match yet."

It could hardly have been a more dramatic entry into the Test arena for Adams.

The England number six came to the crease with his side four wickets down for just two runs in only the third over.

And he was facing Allan Donald's hat-trick ball following Mark Butcher and Alec Stewart's dismissals in successive deliveries.

"It was a great day for me," admitted Adams.

"I had heaps of faxes in the morning and when I was walking out there I just wanted to savour the moment, basically.

"But at two for four, third over and with Donald screaming in on a hat-trick ball, well, what a script! Not one I would have written, that's for sure.

"I'll certainly remember my Test debut for a very long time, probably until the day I die."

Adams batted with his natural aggression to lead England to 34, joining forces with another debutant Michael Vaughan, who scored 33.

Vaughan and Andrew Flintoff (38) added 56 runs for the sixth wicket, making the most of looser spells from Hansie Cronje and Lance Klusener.

But, following an hour's delay for rain after lunch, the innings collapsed again, and 90-5 became 122 all out, and only then after a last-wicket stand of 19 between Alan Mullally and Darren Gough, the hughlight of which was Mullally's hooking of Donald for six.

But the abiding memory of the day was that extraordinary opening burst by Donald, bowling Mike Atherton second ball of the match, then getting Butcher caught at the wicket before a huge inswinger trapped Stewart lbw first ball.

Donald went on to take 6-53, while new-ball partner Shaun Pollock claimed 4-16.

Amazing figures, given the home public were furious at what they considered a "limited attack" and the decision not to pick to paceman David Terbrugge.

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