England ODI captain Paul Collingwood believes sledging could play an important part in this summer's Ashes.

He said it was a "part and parcel" of the current game.

The most eagerly-anticipated English series for four years will kick off on July 8 when Andrew Strauss will be looking to lead his side out to glory and repeat the 2005 Ashes success.

England won that series 2-1 but the Australians soon had their revenge by beating England 5-0 in Australia the following year.

Collingwood had a famous spat with Australian legend Shane Warne during the final Test of that series in Sydney while fielding at slip.

Umpire Billy Bowden had to step in after Warne hit back at Collingwood's jibes, alleging that the Durham man did not deserve the MBE he picked up for being a part of the Ashes-winning side.

The England all-rounder insists that he did nothing wrong in that game, though and believes that sledging remains a legitimate part of the game.

"Sledging is a funny one because I think that cameras are really looking for it now. As soon as somebody opens their mouth it's put into the bracket of sledging, even if it's just a bit of jovial banter in the middle." Collingwood said.

"As players we have to be quite careful. There are obviously boundaries that you cannot go past and get too derogatory or anything like that.

"But if there is a way of upsetting players or getting stuck in to them and it's going to help the team out then I think that if you can do it, but do it slyly and be careful about it and do it at the right times I think just part and parcel of the game."

After playing all five of the 2006-07 defeats and having played in domestic Australian cricket, Collingwood has been exposed to a lot of sledging down under and expects more of the same this summer.

"Certainly when you come up against Australia it's expected," the 33-year-old added.

"They (the Australians) do come hard at you in all forms of the game and sledging is just part of it.

"We all expect it. If it doesn't happen then so be it but we are going to let the cricket do the talking and that's the key thing.

"But if situations arise where something has to be said then it will be said."

This summer's Ashes will provide a stiff early test for new coach Andy Flower, but Collingwood believes the current squad has developed well since he took over from Peter Moores in January.

"The belief is there. We certainly have the players to do it," he said.

"I think losing the captain and the coach during that winter tour was obviously one of the lowest points for English cricket and there obviously had to be a lot of rebuilding.

"Since that Test in Jamaica though, when we were bowled out for 50-odd we have played some exceptional cricket.

"We have a lot of confidence in ourselves and that will only breed more confidence."