England captain Alastair Cook and coach Trevor Bayliss were confident Friday that their squad, fresh from their Ashes triumph, was ready to face Pakistan in a three-match Test series starting later this month. Cook's men face not only an unabated charge from rival spinners, but also searing temperatures and unfamiliar conditions in the United Arab Emirates - a boost for the Pakistan team, who have been playing their home matches in the UAE since 2009 due to security concerns at home.
Cook said his maturing team was ready for the challenge just two months after beating Australia to regain the Ashes 3-2 - albeit in familiar conditions. "We have got a young and exciting side and we are very clear in our mind how hard it is going to be and what a challenge it is," said Cook after the team's first training session. He said his players will have to adapt to the conditions quickly.
"It is warm, something we have to get accustomed to, so the first two training sessions tend to be hard work. "That's part of the conditions we've got to face. Pakistan are probably a bit more used to it than we are, but we'll be fine. Just a bit of sweat, blood and tears for the first bit." Cook said grabbing the opportunities will be the key to success. "Last series we probably should have won it," he said of England's 3-0 rout by Pakistan in 2012. "We had opportunities to win that series but Pakistan hung in and really won the critical moments. "That can be the way in sub-continent conditions or UAE conditions, the game can turn very quickly and you have to make sure you grab those opportunities," said Cook, one of five survivors of the 2012 squad.
Then England were outdone by off-spinner Saeed Ajmal and left-armer Abdul Rehman. Neither were selected this time. The duo was replaced by leg-spinner Yasir Shah and left-armer Zulfiqar Babar, both who helped Pakistan to a 2-0 win over Australia in UAE last year and 2-1 over Sri Lanka this year. Cook admitted Pakistan are still a force to be reckoned with. Shah had an "outstanding" start to his Test career, Cook said of the leggie who took a record 24 wickets in Sri Lanka.
Bayliss, who took over as England coach before the Ashes, sees the Pakistan series as a bigger challenge, but said even his inexperienced players are up to it. "We have got some young inexperienced players but they are players with a lot of ability and lot of skill," said the former Australian assistant and Sri Lankan head coach. "I can see some useful enthusiasm and they are born with some skills so there is no reason why we can't play some good cricket and if we play some good cricket we will be hard to beat." The second Test will be in Dubai (October 22-26) and the third in Sharjah (November 1-5). The Tests will be followed by four one-day and three Twenty20 internationals.