Former paceman Steve Harmison says fresh fast bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad will give England the edge in this year's Ashes series.

Harmison, who claimed 45 wickets in 17 Ashes Tests, predicts England to regain the Ashes they lost 4-0 in Australia in 2017-18, with the workloads of the two competing pace attacks to be the difference in the series.

While Anderson and Broad will prepare for the Ashes with the red Dukes ball in the County Championship, the bulk of Australia's likely pace attack will be involved in the preceding World Cup.

That extra burden of playing in the World Cup before the Ashes, which begins on August 1 and is scheduled to wrap up on September 16, has Harmison believing Joe Root's side can extend Australia's Ashes drought in England beyond 18 years.

"I think it will be a tough Ashes series because of Australia’s bowling strength," Harmison told Metro.co.uk.

"But the intensity of seven weeks of (World Cup) cricket on their bowlers could be crucial. (Mitch) Starc and (Pat) Cummins have been fantastic.

"But they have had injury issues – can they play the whole World Cup and then the Ashes? That’s where I think England have the upper hand in the Ashes.

"England’s trump card with the balls is (James) Anderson and (Stuart) Broad and they will be doing very little in the build-up to the Ashes.

"Whereas the Aussie quicks will have to rock up at the World Cup and then play five Ashes Tests in seven weeks. That will take a lot of strain and that could be the difference.

"Anderson and Broad will be like racehorses, primed and ready to go for that first Test match. England might be a bit fresher in the Ashes and that could be the difference."

The tight turnaround between the two high-profile series affords the World Cup quicks who are in the Ashes squad just one four-day match – Australia v Australia A in Southampton – before the first Test in Birmingham.

Spearhead Josh Hazlewood, who is racing against the clock to be fit for the World Cup, says the lead-up to the Ashes is not ideal but believes there will be benefits from playing at the highest level, irrespective of the format.

"I think while ever you're playing international cricket that's the best preparation you can have," Hazlewood told The Unplayable Podcast.

"Whether it's a different format or not, the intensity is right up and you can't be off your game in those circumstances.

"In saying that, you'd love a few more games with the Dukes ball beforehand to work on a few things.

"I think we've got one four-day game between those two tournaments and a couple of training sessions.

"It's going to be a pretty quick turnaround. The last four Tests are back-to-back as well.

"I think it's going to be near impossible for any quicks to play all five as well with it being such a tight schedule."