England suffered major discomfort here yesterday as an injury crisis and the Indian Board President's XI bowlers swept through their batsmen.

Captain Michael Vaughan pulled out of the three-day match with a recurrence of a knee injury, Kevin Pietersen retired hurt with a back problem and Paul Collingwood's back spasm ruled him out.

Four of the expected Test top six were dismissed cheaply in a paltry 238 before the hosts reached 93 for one.

England's batting appeared in poor condition, with Pietersen's entertaining defiance and useful contributions by the lower middle order making sure that 72 for four did not deteriorate further.

Pietersen showed signs of discomfort moments after lunch but continued after physio Kirk Russell applied a back support and strapping.

Batting with Andrew Strauss as a runner, Pietersen crashed 22 off one over by fast bowler Vikram Singh. One mighty pulled six caused him to grimace in pain, however, and he retreated to the dressing-room five minutes later, having scored 47.

Vaughan, aged 31, succumbed to a long-standing knee injury - operated on in December - and an England spokesman said: "Michael has experienced soreness in his right knee since the first practice match, this has gradually got worse.

"He tested the knee in a practice session this morning and it was decided rest and further treat-ment was the best course of action. We remain hopeful he will be fit for next weeks's Test match."

Vaughan was ruled out of the first Test in Pakistan earlier this winter and had to undergo surgery.

Vice-captain Marcus Trescothick, leading a patched-up side, won the toss against a team including six players who have represented India.

But the batsmen struggled against good pace bowling in stifling heat before a half-century stand between Pietersen and Geraint Jones repaired some of the damage.

Another followed between Jones and Ian Blackwell, who struck six fours in his 33. His loose waft to slip off spinner Ramesh Powar was the only dismissal in the middle session.

Munaf Patel finished things off in haste. Geraint Jones, who batted two-and-a-half hours for 46, Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison were bowled by in-swinging yorkers. Liam Plunkett departed to Shib Paul as the final four wickets fell for just six runs.

The chance to send back Gautam Gambhir, one of the Test players in the opposition ranks, was wasted early in the reply when Trescothick missed a regulation slip catch off Hoggard.

Off the final ball of the day Wasim Jaffer was leg-before sweeping at Blackwell.

Earlier, Trescothick began England's innings positively but a misjudgment cost him his wicket in the fifth over; opening partner Strauss squeezed a thick edge to third man and Trescothick called for a third run only to be out of his ground despite a desperate dive due to Subramani Badrinath's excellent throw from the boundary.

Strauss, Ian Bell and Andrew Flintoff perished attempting to force the ball away. Bell, promoted to No 3, cut bustling seamer Paul straight to gully before Patel took two wickets amid three falling for ten.

Left-hander Strauss chopped into his stumps attempting to drive through the covers off the back foot and Flintoff powered a drive to mid-off.

With a stomach bug sweeping through the tourists' camp, fast bowler Simon Jones and spinner Shaun Udal were discounted. Ideally England would have wanted Jones to undergo a stiff workout following a six-month absence through injury.

With their resources stretched, the tourists had assistant coach Matthew Maynard, 40 next month, as a substitute fieldsman. ..SUPL: