Pakistan vs England: Forget the Ashes, now the heat is really on Trevor Bayliss’s men

In the hot seat: skipper Alastair Cook tries to cool down during England’s drawn tour opener in Sharjah
(Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Michael Weinstein7 October 2015

Beating Pakistan in the stifling heat of the UAE will be a tougher task for England than regaining the Ashes last summer, according to coach Paul Farbrace.

Trevor Bayliss’s No2 warned Alastair Cook and his players of the magnitude of the task facing them this winter in the immediate aftermath of their thrilling 3-2 Ashes series win.

Pakistan have not lost a series in the UAE since it became their permanent base for home Tests.

England drew their first warm-up game in Sharjah and have one more match before the three-Test series begins in Abu Dhabi next week and Farbrace said: “We know it’s going to be a very, very tough series.

“I said at the end of the Australian series I expected this to be a tougher series for us to play in.”

England believe they have unfinished business after losing 3-0 to Pakistan in the UAE in early 2012, having just risen to the top of the world Test rankings.

Farbrace senses England have the right motivation and personnel to fare well and added: “We’ve got senior players who’ve been here and experienced it, and I think there was a feeling that — although they lost the last Test series here 3-0 — it was one they could quite easily have won.

“They didn’t, that’s history, it’s gone now but I think we’ve got a great chance with this group to play some really good cricket, and we’re looking to be as positive as we possibly can be.”

England had to dig deep for runs and wickets in their drawn tour opener against Pakistan A.

“We knew it was going to be tough, very different obviously from conditions we’ve just played in the Ashes,” said Farbrace. “The application with the ball was outstanding. The one thing we’ve had a chat about is that, to win a Test match, you’ve got to take 20 chances — and we’ve missed a couple of chances.

“That’s something we’ll have to work very hard on, and something we prided ourselves on in the Ashes series.

“We’ve still got a good few days to go, so there’ll be plenty of catching (practice) done over the next few days.

“But, generally, I think we had a really good two days. We saw how players adapted quite quickly to the situation and conditions.”

England’s one major selection issue is Cook’s opening partner but it appears Moeen Ali is the preferred option ahead of the uncapped Alex Hales.

Farbrace said: “Everybody in the 16 genuinely has an opportunity ... at this stage. I wouldn’t rule anything in or out, and I think we need to keep our options open as long as we possibly can.

“Mo’s had first go in this practice game, and we were very pleased with the way he applied himself... and that first hour was very difficult.”

There is no doubt England will have two spinners in their Test team, debutant Adil Rashid joining Moeen.

Farbrace said: “It’s exciting (to have them together). It’s the way we want to go, and I know Trevor (Bayliss) is a huge fan of two spinners in the side.”

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