England have firepower to topple India

London: English middle order batsman Paul Collingwood has insisted that England has the firepower to crush India — and put down a marker for next summer"s Ashes.

Collignwood believes the pace attack of Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison will be crucial against India over the next six weeks, The Sun reported.

The Durham all-rounder said: “Apart from the Allen Stanford match, we"ve had two successful months under Kevin Pietersen"s captaincy. Our seam attack, firing on all cylinders, is very hard to beat. And the balance in our side is there now, just look at the team-sheet."

“We have talent all the way down the batting order and cover all bases in terms of pace, spin and fielding."

England is preparing for the first of seven one-day clashes against India which takes place on Friday in Rajkot.

Legendary all-rounder Ian Botham has already said England will regain the Ashes next summer.

And Collignwood added: “We"re taking a lot of momentum into this tour. We had a shocker in the Stanford match but we"ve drawn a line under that."

Meanwhile, England batting coach Andy Flower has revealed how he has helped add finesse to Flintoff"s power-packed strokeplay.

Freddie scored 100 not out in England"s first practice match on Sunday - his first century since the Ashes series of 2005.

ANI