6 Big questions for England to answer ahead of the Pakistan series

6 Big questions for England to answer ahead of the Pakistan series: After the Ashes, England are set to face a much tougher challenge as they take on Pakistan in a 3-Test series. The scars of their last encounter with Pakistan in the middle east would be firmly haunting them. Back in 2012, just months after becoming the world’s No.1 Test side, England went to the UAE to play Pakistan and were promptly dismantled. Pakistan are on a high having defeated Sri Lanka in an away series recently and will be the clear favourites this time as well. But Alastair Cook has shown that England are ready to change their approach to playing spin and willing to learn from their mistakes. An example was the 2012 tour of India on which the English famously won the Test series 2-1. Playing Asian teams on turning pitches has always been the final frontier for England teams and this new bunch have a lot to prove. 1. Can Moeen Ali be a success at the top of the order? Moeen Ali. (© Getty Images) Moeen Ali is widely expected to become Alastair Cook’s seventh opening partner since the retirement of Andrew Strauss in 2012. So far, Michael Carberry, Jonathan Trott, Nick Compton, Joe Root, Sam Robson and Adam Lyth have tried and failed to make the opening berth their own in that period. Ali was batting at the criminally low position of number eight as England juggled their batting line-up to accommodate an all-rounder this summer, and has now been shunted up to the top. The position continues to be a problem for England, and if the left hander can plunder a load of runs over the course of the series, it will provide a much-needed relief for the selectors. 2. Playing the turning ball Yasir Shah. (© Getty Images) England’s top order will need to do more than just survive against spin bowling, they’ll need to score runs. All too often in the past they’ve dropped anchor and tried to cling on. In 2012 the tormentors-in-chief were Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman. This time it will be the leg-spin of Yasir Shah and the left-arm spin of Zulfiqur Babar. While Pakistan have the pace talents of Wahab Riaz and Rahat Ali, England’s success or failure rests on how they play the turning ball and, given their new attacking focus, it will be intriguing to see how they go about their business. 3. Is Ian Bell still worth his place in the team? Ian Bell. (© Getty Images) There were calls from some for Ian Bell to call it a day after he struggled in the summer’s Ashes series. But Bell is not one to give up easily and is given ample time to rediscover his form. At 33, he could still go on to play for a few more years, and has already earmarked his desire to have one final Ashes tour Down Under in two years’ time. James Taylor is banging on the door for a spot in the middle order, and if Bell fails in this series, one of England’s modern-day greats could be on his way out of Test cricket. Taylor impressed many in the Royal London Series and is noted for his adaptability against spin. 4. How will Adil Rashid take to Test cricket? Adil Rashid. (© Getty Images) The role of Adil Rashid will be vital in this series. Not only will he need to take wickets, he will need to be economical, to give England’s fast bowlers a rest in the searing heat of the UAE. He should enjoy himself – an orthodox leg spinner who can turn the ball a considerable amount if conditions are favourable, which they will be in the dust bowls of Pakistan’s ‘home’. The 27-year-old has been an indispensable part of England’s one-day setup over the last 12 months, and will be expected to shine in the whites as well. But he won’t have it easy. A first class average of 34 is nothing to write home about and Pakistani batsmen are sure to treat him with disdain and test his temperament. If he comes out on top, he will be one for the future. 5. Will Jos Buttler find form with the bat? Jos Buttler. (Photo Source: PA Photos) After a blistering start to his Test career – Jos Buttler has had a lean summer. Buttler, 25, is one of England’s most exciting young players but he could do with a score or two after a disappointing Ashes campaign in which he averaged only 15 with the bat. The number of times he fell to Nathan Lyon will also be a concern ahead of the UAE tour where spin is likely to be the dominating factor. He is an aggressive player but that style might not work always in Test cricket. Even more so in conditions such as UAE where you need to grind your way through rather than blaze to a quick-fire score. With Jonny Bairstow breathing down his neck for a place, the pressure will start to mount on Buttler if he doesn’t deliver with the bat. 6. Should England pick James Taylor? James Taylor. (© Getty Images) Despite averaging more than 47 in first-class cricket, Taylor has constantly been overlooked by the England selectors when it comes to the longer form of the game. The Nottinghamshire batsman performed well against Australia in the one-day series and will be keen to take his chance if he gets a game against Pakistan. The youngster also showed his skills in his debut Test against the mighty South Africans facing Dale Steyn and company with exemplary determination and grit. It looks as though the selectors will start the series with Bairstow, but Taylor may get an opportunity to show what he can do at some stage in this tour.