England bowler Steve Harmison has pledged to prove his doubters wrong by bouncing back to form this season.

Harmison was dropped from the Test side after the first Test defeat in New Zealand and has since been singled out for some heavy criticism.

But the 29-year-old Harmison said: "I laugh at some of it, especially when ex-players are doing it because they are the ones that should know better.

"But we have a culture in England where we kick people when they are down."

In recent years Harmison has struggled to recapture the form that saw him ranked as the number one bowler in the world.

In the first Test of the winter series in New Zealand he bowled just four overs in the second innings as England slumped to a 189-run defeat.

He was dropped for the final two Tests, which England won to take the series.

Some things are more important than cricket and seeing your son come into the world is one of them Steve Harmison

Former England batsman Mark Butcher said he thought Harmison was unprepared for the series, while ex-Test paceman Andy Caddick questioned whether he had the desire for international cricket.

But Harmison vowed to have the last word on his critics by recapturing his form, starting with his county side Durham when the season gets under way this week.

He added: "They like to have a pop at someone and at the minute it's my turn.

"I'm sure further down the line it will be somebody else's turn and they'll leave me alone. I've got broad shoulders, I'll take it on the chin and just get on with it.

"It's difficult at the moment because people are giving me stick and there is no cricket to play.

"The most important thing is for me to go out and play some cricket and see if I can put my hat back into the ring.

"There's only one way to answer it and that is to perform, but at the moment we're not playing.

"People are having a field day by sticking their 50 pence in here there and everywhere. That's life and it's not something that bothers me.

"Hopefully three or four months from now, the stick will have died down and I'll be back in the England team."

606: DEBATE He's not played well for too long, which is such a shame because he can be such a good bowler. Steve_Ireland

"There's a couple of north east sportsmen not far from here who have had a horrendous time lately of being kicked when they are down.

"Seeing them come back spurs you on. They have just said 'keep knocking and I'll have my chance'."

Harmison was a late arrival in New Zealand after staying behind to see the birth of his fourth child, but he has no regrets about the decision.

"If it ever did happen again there is no doubt in my mind I'd stay again," he said.

"Some things are more important than cricket and seeing your son come into the world is one of them."

Geoff Cook, his coach at Durham, believes Harmison still has the ability to play at Test level, but he needs help from the national coaches.

"In my opinion Stephen has a lot to offer England if he gets back to his best and they find an environment he feels relaxed in," he said.

"I'm sure that it's a mental thing when he goes off to play for England. To see him bowl at 80mph in New Zealand is not like Steve Harmison.

"Before he got on the plane he was bowling really quickly in the indoor nets.

"Most of it is down to Steve of course, but the people on the periphery have also got to play a part."