Confident Tim Bresnan a changed man since 2006

Bresnan yesterday had to deal with several unwelcome reminders of his part in England's eight-wicket hammering by Sri Lanka, on his home patch, which completed a 5-0 NatWest Series whitewash five years ago.

As a 21-year-old in only his fifth international, the seamer was mercilessly dispatched for 29 in just two overs by Sanath Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga.

Bresnan did not play for his country again for more than two years, but he has come of age since, with historic ICC World Twenty20 and Ashes series victories to prove it - and so, he insists, have England.

"We got nailed in that series," he said. "But everyone has moved on a lot since then. We are a much better one-day unit."

In fact, only Bresnan and two other players likely to take part today - Ian Bell and new captain Alastair Cook - survive from the chastening experience of 2006.

And England are already 1-0 up in this five-match series after an opening victory at The Oval on Tuesday.

Seven England players made their debuts the last time Sri Lanka toured, and Bresnan said: "Everyone has got a lot more confidence. We have not got seven debutants.

"We have our plans, and everyone knows the role - rather than have seven new guys come into the team and wonder who is doing what, when and how."

Bresnan credits coach Andy Flower, as well as Cook and his predecessor as captain, Andrew Strauss, for ending England's days of ODI haplessness.

"Fielding and fitness have moved forward a lot," he said. "I am a lot fitter now than I was back then. If you look around the team we are quite athletic and quite 'in- your-face' as a fielding unit.

"Our record at home over the last three years has been very good in one-day cricket. We are a tough side to beat at home, there's no question about that.

"Three years ago, whenever we played a series against a decent side we were the underdogs; now we're expected to win.

"Andy (Flower] has had a massive influence on that, as have Straussy and now Cooky as captains. They enforce the belief that we've got in ourselves and the fact that we can beat anyone on our day.

"Before, if we had an average day we'd just get hammered. But now if we do (that] we are still hard to beat, and if we have a good day then we beat sides easily. That is a good position to be in."

Bresnan himself is in an enviable position, too, demonstrated by England's decision to call him into this series as soon as he was fit again after an early-season recurrence of a calf injury. He said: "It shows a lot of faith from Cooky and Andy and the selectors that they've got in me. It keeps me confident that they've got so much belief in me."Sri Lanka interim coach Stuart Law has confidence in his team to recover from the 110-run defeat in London.

"We were disappointed the other day," he said. "We didn't bat very well. We've got to put our minds on the job and come back strong."

TEAMS: England (probable): AN Cook (captain), C Kieswetter (wkt), IJL Trott, KP Pietersen, EJG Morgan, IR Bell, TT Bresnan, SCJ Broad, GP Swann, JW Dernbach, JM Anderson

Sri Lanka (from): TM Dilshan (captain), DPMD Jayawardene, LD Chandimal, KC Sangakkara (wkt), SHT Kandamby, AD Mathews, BMAJ Mendis, KMDN Kulasekara, S Randiv, SL Malinga, RAS Lakmal, KTGD Prasad, BAW Mendis.