London, Jan. 25 : Former England pace bowler Devon Malcolm believes Steve Harmison can regain his form against the West Indies during the current tour.

The Daily Star quoted Malcolm as saying: "To get him firing, Steve needs to prove he has completed his rehabilitation. Going back to the Caribbean, with the memories he has of the place, will have a good and positive effect on him."

"Hopefully he can feed from that energy that he felt out there five years ago and really get his bounce and pace back. He needs to build up some momentum in the West Indies and take that into the Ashes series" he added.

"When he is at the top of his game, with that bounce and pace, and with the players that Australia have lost - Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer and Glenn McGrath - England should win that series," Malcolm said.

The First Test at Sabina Park, Jamaica, begins on February 8. That is the ground where Harmison achieved career-best figures and became the world's No. 1 bowler five years ago.

In March 2004, the Durham quick, now 30, took 7-12 as the Windies were skittled out for 47. He went on to claim 23 wickets in all on tour - and was named man-of-the-series.

Since then Harmison has struggled for consistency.

Malcolm, 45, also reckons this series could be the one in which Stuart Broad, 22, comes of age.

"Stuart can be a star for England. He and Harmison are the two guys who are going take England through. I would have no problem in playing Stuart in all of the Tests," he said.

The former Derbyshire pace bowler believes that, with the Ashes a mere six months away, it was better that the public falling out between Kevin Pietersen and coach Peter Moores happened now, rather than at a later date.

"I think Andrew Strauss is the right man for the captaincy - not just for the Caribbean series, but for the Ashes, too. He is a man with character, he is very level headed and he is calm. He will treat players as individuals and I believe Straussy will get the best out of Pietersen and Harmison," Malcolm said. (ANI)