Johannesburg: South Africa's fast bowlers took advantage of helpful conditions as England crashed to 180 all out on the first day of the fourth Test at the Wanderers Stadium.

Andrew Strauss, who chose to bat first in humid conditions, fell first ball and Jonathan Trott to the day's 12th.

England, who lead the four-match series 1-0, were 39-4 before Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell shared a stand of 76.

Dale Steyn (5-51) cut through the lower order and the hosts were 29-0 when bad light ended play early in Johannesburg.

England's selection of Ryan Sidebottom had raised eyebrows when he replaced Graham Onions despite a dearth of match practice. But both he and James Anderson found extravagant swing late in the day, only to find Graeme Smith and Ashwell Prince at their most diligent in defence.

Rain, as expected, arrived on cue early in the final session, wiping out 90 minutes after the first 4.1 overs of South Africa's reply. Under floodlights they eventually got in a further 7.5 overs before the light was offered to the batsmen, and that concluded the action for the day.

Steyn and Morkel bowled brilliantly, extracting every bit of assistance from a spicy wicket. But two of England's top four, namely Trott and Kevin Pietersen, were guilty of gifting their wickets away.

Even Strauss - who, like Trott and Pietersen, has generally performed below his best throughout the series - partially contributed to his own demise.

Strauss duly became the first Englishman since Stan Worthington at the Gabba in 1936 to lose his wicket to the first ball of a Test.

Morkel followed up in the second over when Jonathan Trott played across a full delivery and was out leg before wicket.

Kevin Pietersen's run of poor scores continued when he pulled Morkel straight to new cap Wayne Parnell at mid-on after making seven.

Alastair Cook went back on his stumps and was a second leg before victim. He asked for a review but umpire Tony Hill's decision was upheld.

Collingwood looked in good form before he was squared up by new cap McLaren and caught at point off a leading edge.

Steyn bowled Bell with a delivery which cut back between bat and pad after a series of away-swingers and England's resistance was effectively broken, although Graeme Swann made a breezy 27 off 27 balls before he was the last man out.

England surprisingly left out fast bowler Graham Onions, bringing in left-arm swing bowler Ryan Sidebottom.

Brief scores
England: 180 (Steyn 5-51, Morkel 3-39)
South Africa: 29 for 0
Status: South Africa trail by 151-runs