Collingwood backs fatherhood to provide Pietersen with boost

But captain Paul Collingwood has no qualms about compromised preparation or jet-lag issues, confident instead that England's mercurial No 3 will be so invigorated at becoming a father for the first time that his game head will be well and truly on against Sri Lanka.

Pietersen's pop singer wife Jessica Taylor gave birth to a baby boy on Monday morning, two days after he flew from Barbados to London to be present.

He had just produced the second of two successive man-of-the-match performances to help England easily beat his native South Africa at Kensington Oval but was then on the other side of the Atlantic when they scraped a three-wicket win over New Zealand to book their place in today's semi-final at Beausejour Stadium. Asked whether it is asking a lot of Pietersen to immediately reproduce his best form within a day of switching continents, Collingwood said: "No, I don't think so at all.

"In this form of the game especially, your frame of mind is the crucial thing.

"He's going to be in a great frame of mind. He's just had a baby boy; he'll be a happy man; he's had a little bit of a break, and it might do him the world of good just to come straight back into it.

"There's nothing technical he has to change. It's just his mindset, and I'm sure his mind is 100 per cent right. He'll be a happy man, and raring to go."

Collingwood is equally convinced of his team's collective well-being.

England's self-belief has been evident from the start of this tournament. Their success so far has shown it to be well-placed, and it remains as strong as ever - against opponents who were Lord's finalists in last year's edition of this tournament.

"We're confident that if we put similar performances in we're going to win," Collingwood added. "We're not going overboard because we've got to give Sri Lanka a lot of respect – they're a great Twenty20 side – but if we play anything like we can, we're confident we can win."

As when they beat New Zealand on Monday, Yorkshire's Tim Bresnan will be a key player.

The all-rounder, who does not lack for confidence in his or his team's ability, said: "If we keep playing the brand of cricket we can play, it doesn't really matter who we play against.

"We'll do our homework before, put our plans in place. We'll have respect for the opposition but we won't be scared of anyone."

Bresnan has been trusted by Collingwood and coach Andy Flower with new-ball and 'death' bowling and a potentially pivotal batting position of No 7.

He is relishing the responsibility as just one component in a hugely talented Twenty20 team.

As for the onus on him to set the tone with the ball, Bresnan actually believes his initial task – alongside fellow Yorkshireman Ryan Sidebottom – can be a little less precarious than those that follow.

"I think the first over is almost easier than bowling the third or fourth," he added.

"If you bowl it where you want to – back of a length and straight – with a little bit of variation, especially if it swings as well, the batsmen are just going to have a little bit of a look at you.

"By the third or fourth over, that is when the batter really starts to try to cash in. That's when you've got to use your skill and nous to do something different, and keep them guessing."