Ashley Giles has told his England team-mates they should prepare themselves for a hard-fought series in Pakistan as they look to build on their Ashes-winning exploits.
The Warwickshire left-arm spinner Giles, 32, played a key role in England's 2-1 home Test series win against Australia that gave them the Ashes for the first time in 18 years by helping Michael Vaughan's men retain control in the field while the quicks rested and taking 10 wickets into the bargain.
He also starred with the bat, seeing England to victory in the fourth Test at Trent Bridge and then making a Test-best 59 as the hosts secured a series-clinching draw on the last day of the final Test at The Oval.
Giles was making his name in international cricket when England last toured Pakistan five years ago, winning the three-match series 1-0 after a dramatic victory in fading light on the final day of the third Test saw them become the first visiting team to win a Test in Karachi.
That win was the catalyst for much of the subsequent success enjoyed by England under coach Duncan Fletcher but Giles knows full well that Pakistan and India, where England tour in the New Year, will provide their own particular challenges for a side lacking in sub-continental experience.
"It will be a very tough series for us. Everyone is on a high still and very excited about what has happened in the Ashes," said Giles as England flew out to Pakistan from London's Heathrow Airport on Tuesday for a tour featuring three-Tests and five one-day internationals.
"But this is another stepping stone to becoming the best side in the world, so we still have a lot of work to do," Giles, one of five survivors from England's last tour of Pakistan, added.
"We have to draw strength from what we have done and learn from our experiences, but it will be a tough and very different challenge. "
"If we go into it lightly it could easily bite us quite hard. We must be ready so we can come out on top and enjoy our Christmas."
Giles has usually operated as a lone spinner for England but if, as is often the case in Pakistan, the pitches are dusty and dry he could find himself being partnered by Hampshire veteran Shaun Udal or Warwickshire's Alex Loudon.
The off-spinners' prospects of making what, in both cases, would be a Test debut have been increased by the withdrawal through injury of reverse-swing specialist Simon Jones, one of England's Ashes heroes.
And Giles said he was looking forward to playing alongside another spinner, expecially Udal who appeared in the last of his 10 one-day international caps a decade ago.
"I always enjoy bowling with another spinner. You pick up a bit of rhythm and can create more pressure and get on top of batsmen together. I hope we will play two spinners. "
"I can learn from 'Shaggy' (Udal) as much as he can learn from me, because he is a very experienced bowler. "We have three spinners, and I don't think any of them will be written off. I have to do my job, because I have two guys up my back now looking to put me under pressure."
Giles said patience would be vital if England were to match one of the high spots of a 50-Test career featuring 137 wickets at a shade under 39 apiece.
"We managed in 2000 to stick at it and stay with them until the final hurdle when we won that great game in Karachi," he explained. "That was a personal highlight in my career."
England's three-day tour opener in Rawalpindi is due to get underway on October 31 with the first Test in Multan starting on November 12.
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