England will miss Jones - Younis

Younis Khan, the Pakistan vice-captain, believes the absence of Simon Jones could prove crucial to the outcome of the series against England.

Jones was finally ruled out of the tour earlier this week with an ankle injury sustained during the Ashes series, an injury which also caused him to miss the final Test at The Oval.

Younis highlighted Jones as the danger man in England's impressive four-man pace attack. "Overall, England have a very good pace attack but Jones was their best bowler in the Ashes series as he has learnt to reverse swing the old ball at good pace and that makes it difficult to face him at all times. I watched him bowl in England and his ability to reverse and his pace is supplemented by a neat action. He was the one who caused the Australians the most problems."

Asim Kamal, who has played 11 Tests for Pakistan, also agreed that Jones's absence could be decisive but said that England's attack might struggle to adjust to conditions in Pakistan.

Jones took 18 wickets in the Ashes at 21 apiece, but it was his low strike rate - at 34 it was better than any bowler on either side - and an uncanny ability to conjure wickets at pivotal moments that stood out. "He took wickets at crucial moments and was a crucial part of their attack with the old ball," Younis added.

Younis, who along with Inzamam-ul-Haq has been one of Pakistan's most consistent batsmen over the past year, is expected to play a key role throughout the series. Since his recall to the national team in November 2004 against Sri Lanka at Karachi, Younis has been irrepressible.

He celebrated his recall with a century in that Test and has scored 1085 runs at 63.82 in nine matches in that period. The run has encompassed four centuries in all, including a monumental 267 at Bangalore that enabled Pakistan to level the series against India.

Kamal too has been an unqualified batting success. He has quietly compiled eight fifties since his advent in the side and added considerable depth to the middle-order. On the English fast bowlers he said, "The conditions will be very different from England and that's a plus point for us. But they've got a quality attack and the injury to Jones is good for us."

Kamal also drew attention to Matthew Hoggard, one of the less celebrated members of the pace quartet. "Matthew Hoggard never allowed the Australian openers to settle down and took wickets with the new ball because he has the ability of disguising his straight ball while swinging the new ball both ways. Our openers will have to be aware of this."

Meanwhile, Peter Moores, National Academy director, warned England that they will underestimate Rana Naved-ul-Hasan at their peril. Rana played under Moores at Sussex this year, helping them to third place in the top division.

Moores, who recently left Hove to take up the Academy post, told BBC, "He is very skilful. But as well as that, he has the same passion and enthusiasm to play as an 18-year-old. He has no fear of failure or inhibitions."

Rana has taken 55 wickets in 31 ODIs but in his five Tests since his debut last year he has managed only eight expensive wickets.

Moores added, "He bowls at 85mph or above; he swings it away with the new ball and reverses it with the older ball; then he has at least three different slower balls. He also has very good disguise of reverse swing, manoeuvring the ball in his fingers - very clever.

"There is no guarantee he is going to get in the Pakistan side yet, but I would be amazed if they didn't pick him. I think he will do well in Test match cricket. He asks a lot of questions of batsmen and he is not scared of hard work either."