England will seek inspiration from their last stunning one-day fightback as they begin their ICC Champions Trophy campaign against Sri Lanka today.
Were Andrew Strauss's team to go on and win this tournament, it would be one of the biggest shocks in the recent history of English cricket. The players are mentally and physically drained after a summer without a break, have been unable to prepare properly for this tournament, and have just been beaten 6-1 in the NatWest series by Australia.
Yet it was a similar situation Down Under in 2007, when a squad stung by a 5-0 Ashes defeat, and way off form in 50-over cricket, somehow managed to rediscover their touch to win the Commonwealth Bank series.
The hero then was Paul Collingwood, who managed scores of 106, 120 not out and 70 to ensure England gained an improbable victory.
The Durham batsman said: "In the form we've been in the past few weeks it will be very hard to say we are going to come out and win it, but the amazing thing is we can produce performances to beat anybody on our day.
"The funny thing about this team is we have the potential to do it. It's a tournament that's so short you could click and that could be it. I'm never going to say never.
"I want to win an ICC tournament, which we've never done, and I want to beat Australia in Australia. I intend to be there next year, it's as simple as that and I will do whatever it takes to get there."
Collingwood has returned to the side after being given a three-game break during the NatWest series, as Strauss and coach Andy Flower try to ensure the 33-year-old does not suffer burn-out after a long summer.
He has also been selected for his Indian Premier League side Delhi Daredevils' Champions League campaign next week, and Flower admits that England can ill afford to do without Collingwood.
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"What he brings to the team is a steely determination, a combative quality," said Flower. "He's a fine fielder, a bowler who can do a job for us in the middle overs, and a middle-order player who can score close to a run a ball and alternate strike easily.
"If we can manage him properly, given the scheduling, and he can ensure his form is good, then who knows how long he can go on?"
England will have a tough task containing a talented Sri Lankan side who beat hosts South Africa in their opening game. But Strauss's men are boosted by the return to fitness of bowler Stuart Broad and all-rounder Luke Wright.
