Steady start for Pakistan

England endured a wicketless first hour with the new ball after Pakistan chose to bat first in the second Test at the Zyed Cricket Stadium.

Stuart Broad and James Anderson struggled to find any life in this desert pitch, but there were early signs of encouragement for England's two spinners - bowling in tandem after only 12 overs.

Monty Panesar, who returned to the England Test team today - for the first time since the start of the 2009 Ashes in Cardiff - was called into the action first, for the 10th over in his 40th Test.

Neither he nor Graeme Swann seriously troubled either Taufeeq Umar or Mohammad Hafeez as Pakistan reached 39 without loss.

But, despite a nervy start, there was significant - albeit slow - turn on the first morning for Panesar who, like Swann, appeared to drop short too often in his early overs.

Their challenge was to find a suitable length on a slow surface nonetheless already responsive to spin.

England's decision to pick just two frontline seamers as they try to get back into this three-match series, following their hammering in Dubai, looked sound after Broad and Anderson's fruitless opening salvos.

The tourists opted for Panesar here in place of injured fast bowler Chris Tremlett, who is to fly home because of a back injury.

Pakistan also made one change, picking Junaid Khan instead of Aizaz Cheema in a like-for-like swap.