STEVE Harmison has tipped Durham team-mate Paul Collingwood to help England become the surprise package at this month’s World Cup.

England begin their tournament against Holland on Tuesday and Harmison has a sneaky feeling England will end up surprising many people.

Andrew Strauss’s side suffered a heavy defeat to Australia in the one-day series Down Under, but Harmison feels that was down to the fact the team’s key players were feeling jaded after their Ashes triumph.

And, having seen England win the World Twenty20 with Collingwood as captain, the former England fast bowler is convinced they have as good a chance as anyone of winning the tournament.

“I wouldn’t read too much into what has happened in the one-day series against Australia,” said Harmison, who insists the foot injury which disrupted him so badly last season at Durham has benefited from a winter’s rest.

“Nobody has said it and nobody would dare say it, but I think the England players looked tired and they looked jaded. It’s not so much performances, it’s decision-making.

“The Ashes took more out of them than they would admit and it has been a case of after the Lord Mayor’s Show.

“It took a lot of effort to win the series and this has been a step too far for them. Australia were trying to restore some pride, England has won the Ashes, the one-day series was something else.

“It will be completely different in the World Cup.

“They came back and recharged the batteries, saw their families and friends, and that gives you a lift, psychologically and physically. It’s only a few days, but it can make all the difference.”

Collingwood, who announced his retirement from Test match cricket at the end of the triumphant Ashes campaign, has struggled in all forms of the game in recent months.

But he scored 65 from 73 balls in England’s final warm up match against Pakistan yesterday, and Harmison feels the conditions on the sub-continent are far more suited to Collingwood’s natural game.

He explained: “The conditions will be completely different in India and I think they will suit the England team a lot more.

“I know he has struggled for form, but I’m expecting Paul Collingwood to have an excellent tournament, the ball won’t bounce as much and it won’t move as much.

“I like him batting at six, I think that is his natural position and he can do a lot of damage in that area. He could be the key man, even though people are ready to write him off.

“If Stuart Broad is fit, that is vital. We will have a very dangerous seam attack with him and Jimmy Anderson, who for me is the best seam bowler in the world at the moment. England are one of the contenders.

“They will get an early look at India in the Group stage and, if they can win that one, there will be momentum behind them and that is important in a tournament situation.

“If they can get to the semi-final, anything can happen from there.

“I’m not worried by what has happened in Australia, the World Cup will be completely different, different conditions, different pressure, different requirements and Andy Flower and Andy Strauss will have the team wonderfully prepared.”

Harmison was back in pre-season training with Durham a fortnight ago, although he isn’t planning to bowl properly until the preparations move outdoors as he does not want to aggravate his troublesome foot. He added: “I’m feeling pretty good.

“The foot seems to be fine, although we’ve only just returned to training. I’m nowhere near bowling at the moment, I think part of the problems last year was bowling indoors for so long before the season began, but it feels good to be back and we’re all looking forward to the start of the season.

“Last winter was a bit of a novelty for me. I’d played cricket for ten months of the year for the best part of ten years and suddenly I had a winter off and nothing to do. I enjoyed it, it was relaxing, but after the first month this time I was bored and couldn’t wait for the season to start again.

“I enjoyed doing the television work for Sky during the Ashes, that kept me involved, but I want to play cricket because that’s all I’ve ever been any good at.

“Some people might even dispute that, but in all seriousness, I can’t wait for the season to start and I’ve really enjoyed training so far.”