The 30-year-old Durham paceman has endured many ups and downs since establishing himself as the best in the world rankings in 2004.

He helped England win the 2005 Ashes but lost his form and his enjoyment for cricket over the last couple of years, culminating in his retirement from one-day internationals.

Enthusiastic courtship from captain Kevin Pietersen persuaded Harmison to reverse that decision and he is now a key part of England's line-up which was due to start their series against India this morning.

"I think I'm a better bowler now because I'm a more experienced bowler," claimed Harmison. "That year, everything stuck, I was getting people taking catches off nothing and winning lbws which were 90-10 in the batsman's favour.

"The following year, if there were three dropped 'catches' in the game they were all mine, but I was pretty philosophical about what was happening and sometimes everything goes for you. You have to take the rough with the smooth and I feel like I'm in a decent place now but this tour is going to be tough. I'm just coming back into one-day cricket and this is the hardest tour of all."

England's final preparations for today's opening one-dayer in Rajkot saw tensions rise at the Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Club.

With both sides practising at either end of the playing area, England became angry when a ball from the India nets narrowly missed batting coach Andy Flower. All-rounder Andrew Flintoff strode over to remonstrate with India bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad before England coach Peter Moores eased tensions.