UAE challenge will test young England

So England's crammed year of international cricket moves to its next stage. With a young team, Ashes regained, the white ball not something to be feared and spirits lifted the squad embark on what will be a hugely significant and demanding six months in the development of a free-spirited but still often raw side.

The UAE is the first destination: a neutral venue, but one in which Pakistan feel very much at home. Three years ago England arrived fresh from the triumph of reaching No. 1 in the world under Andrew Strauss' leadership, only to come a cropper in the Test matches: whitewashed 3-0, defeats by 10 wickets, 72 runs (chasing 145) and 71 runs (despite bowling Pakistan out for 99). The next month will be about a challenge of the spinning ball - both playing it and bowling it - men around the bat and temperatures that could nudge the 40s.

Alastair Cook was still Strauss' lieutenant in 2012, now he is a captain with his authority and standing restored after a summer where he has shown immense character and fortitude - plus a willingness to adapt, a facet that will be tested again on this tour. He is one of just five survivors from the Test squad of the previous trip - alongside Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Steven Finn (who did not play) - and in an era when overseas wins are tough to come by he is aware of what lies ahead.

"It's definitely going to be a tricky tour with their history in terms of how strong Pakistan are and their record in the UAE," Cook said. "I think they've played six or seven series and haven't lost a series. That shows what is in front of us. The great thing is in Test cricket is trying to win away from home. It's getting harder and harder."

In 2012 it was the batting that cost England. They crossed 300 once in six innings and did not score an individual hundred in the three Tests. The bowling, led by Anderson and Broad then allied with the spin twins of Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar for the latter two matches, more than held its own (Pakistan only topped 300 twice) but the batting line-up proved hapless against Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman, who combined to take 43 wickets.

Neither will be around this time, but they have been handsomely replaced by Yasir Shah, the legspinner who became the fastest Pakistan bowler to fifty Test wickets, and left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar. New faces, same threat for England.

"You do learn lessons but it happened quite a few years ago. And this is a very different side. Only four of us are going back," Cook said. "I think also that the pitches have changed a little. The matches seem to be a lot higher scoring than they were in 2012.

"Clearly, in the modern way of international cricket, we'll do some homework on the bowlers and the Pakistan team in general. We haven't faced many of them, it is quite a different bowling attack to what we have faced in the past. I certainly haven't faced a couple of them. The legspinner clearly has done incredibly well so far in his short career."

A point which Cook recalled from the previous series was the manner of dismissals. There were a combined 43 lbws across the three matches - the joint most for any Test series - with England batsman falling 22 times and Pakistan's 21.

"The one thing I remember is that skiddy, back-of-a-length spin that is difficult to face. Rehman and Ajmal bowled well, quick spin, I think there was a world record number of lbws. Trying to force yourself to go forward was quite hard. With DRS now, you can't just get your pad in the way and say you're a long way down. If it's in line, you're out. We're going to have to make sure we defend using our bats."

Although Ajmal and Rehman proved the trump cards three years ago, England were not cast adrift when it came to bowling spin: Swann and Panesar shared 27 wickets, Panesar taking 14 in two matches. This time they cannot match such quality in the spin department. Moeen Ali, with 45 Test wickets at 36.04, is the lead man and is likely to be joined by the uncapped Adil Rashid. Samit Patel, a late addition to the squad, has four Test wickets while Joe Root is the other supplementary offering.

"I'm confident they can take the wickets, but in a different way to Monty and Swanny," Cook said. "Mo has had a fantastic start to his international career with his all-round contribution. He's not an out-and-out spinner in the way that Swanny was, he provides a lot of all-round value. Same as Rash. Monty's Test record when he played was fantastic but Rash can also bring runs. That's a real string to his bow. So we have a different balance to the side this time."

The hints appear to be, therefore, that Moeen is favourite to open alongside Cook and Rashid will earn a Test debut, probably as part of a six-man attack alongside four quick bowlers. Anderson, Broad and Ben Stokes are certainties, leaving the final decision between Mark Wood's skiddy pace and Finn's height and bounce. The former's qualities could be more suited to conditions.

However, England only have two two-day matches in Sharjah, the first starting on October 5, to get their game back into sync and make final decisions on the composition of the XI for Abu Dhabi. "That's what we've been given. Would we want more? Absolutely," Cook said. "The guys have just finished the one-day stuff against Australia and we're now going to the UAE. But that's what modern cricket is and it's up to the players to adapt. That's why it is so hard to win away."

The first Test begins on October 13, followed by matches in Dubai and Sharjah - the first time England will have played a Test at that venue. A four-match ODI series and three T20s make up the tour.