Bayliss, Cook ready for Pakistan challenge

England captain Alastair Cook and coach Trevor Bayliss are confident their squad, fresh from an Ashes triumph, are ready to face Pakistan in a three-match Test series starting October 13 in Abu Dhabi.

Cook's men face not only the threat of Pakistan’s high-quality spin attack and batting line-up, but also searing temperatures and unfamiliar conditions in the United Arab Emirates.

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Cook on Friday 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.

"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.

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"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 subcontinent conditions or UAE conditions, the game can turn very quickly and you have to make sure you grab those opportunities."

Cook is one of five survivors of the 2012 squad.

Back then, England were outdone by off-spinner Saeed Ajmal and left-armer Abdul Rehman. Neither were selected this time.

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Ajmal was suspended last year over an illegal bowling action. He was cleared in February this year after remodelling his action but has failed to recapture much of what made him such a difficult prospect.

Instead, Pakistan boast arguably world cricket’s best spinner from the past 12 months – leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who could well team up with left-arm orthodox tweaker Zulfiqar Babar.

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 a 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.