England not weaker than 2012: Anderson

Fast bowler James Anderson has rejected Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq's claim that England will field a weaker Test side this month than the one which was defeated 3-0 in 2012.

In his exclusive column for cricket.com.au, Misbah wrote England "may appear to be weak compared to the team we faced on their last visit in 2012", pointing to the absence of experienced players including batsmen Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott and England's premier spinners of the past decade.

"Their spinners back then, Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar, were more experienced and destructive and I feel England are going to miss them," Misbah wrote.

Andrew Strauss and Matthew Prior were also part of the England team in 2012, which lost all three Tests by margins of 10 wickets, 72 runs and 71 runs.

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England struggled in 2012 // Getty Images

However Anderson believes England's 16-man squad for the three-Test series is simply less experienced.

"I wouldn't say we're weaker. I'd say we're less experienced," Anderson said.

"The quality and talent that we've got in the side is easily a match for the side that came out here in 2012.

"We're fortunate we've got players that have played out here before and can offer experience to those guys that haven't. Hopefully that will stand us in good stead."

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The first Test will begin in Abu Dhabi tomorrow, with the hosts to be without No.3 batsman Azhar Ali, who has a foot infection.

Misbah has rated his spin stocks, led by star leg-spinner Yasir Shah and left-armer Zulfiqar Babar, as Pakistan's most valuable commodity, despite allrounder Mohammad Hafeez playing purely as a batsman while he serves a 12-month ban for bowling with an illegal action, and the omission of 2012 hero Saeed Ajmal.

Ajmal took 24 wickets against England in 2012, but has struggled to recapture the same form since remodelling his action earlier this year, after he too was reprimanded for possessing an illegal action.

Pakistan are also full of confidence after winning their Test series against Sri Lanka earlier this year, while they also have a strong record playing at their home-away-from-home in the UAE, including last year's resounding series win over Australia. 

For England, the Pakistan series looms as an opportunity to prove they can perform away from home and carry on the momentum built by their Ashes victory over Australia.

Anderson is expected to return for the first Test after missing the last two matches of the Ashes series with a side strain, having safely negotiated his way through two games for Lancashire in county cricket and one warm-up match in the UAE.

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Anderson holds his side during the third Test // Getty Images

"I've played a couple of games for Lancashire and got into some form there and came through unscathed," Anderson said.

"I've not felt any issues at all so I'm raring to go."

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However, former England captain Michael Vaughan believes the country's leading Test wicket-taker should be left on the sidelines for the first Test.

"England should not make the mistake of picking players on their past," Vaughan wrote in a column for The Telegraph.

"We have done that before. If conditions in Abu Dhabi do not favour (Anderson's) 82mph swing then why pick Jimmy?

"Perhaps go with a third spinner in Samit Patel. Pakistan will hit England with three spinners."

The tourists rested fast bowlers Anderson, Stuart Broad and Mark Wood for their second warm-up match against Pakistan A last week, suggesting they are the likely trio, alongside allrounder Ben Stokes, to form the pace attack for the first Test.

However Steven Finn stated his case for inclusion in the Test XI with a superb performance against Pakistan A, capturing 4-16.  

"I'd still be surprised if I played the first Test," Finn said.

"(But) I don't think the same bowling attack is going to play all the way through the series because of the conditions and the wickets we're playing on," Finn said.

"So if you don't play the first Test it's not the end of the world because there are two others in very quick succession to come."

The major question mark lingering over England's playing XI has been the question of who will replace Yorkshire batsman Adam Lyth as Alastair Cook's opening partner.

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Opener potential: Moeen and Hales // Getty Images

But that questioned appears to have been answered by coach Trevor Bayliss following the second warm-up match, when he endorsed off-spinning allrounder Moeen Ali to adapt to the role – but admitted it was a less-than-ideal solution.

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"I think at this stage Mo has probably got his nose in front," Bayliss said.

"It's probably not ideal. We've got Alex Hales here who we know can be an explosive batter. But I think Mo has shown he's a good player against spin, he can play the pace bowling and he's handled the pressure during that Ashes series.

"Mo is a good enough player that he could actually be the answer. Yes, it's not perfect, we know that, but Mo's the type of player who could very well turn himself into that other opener."

Moeen scored a total of 41 runs in his three warm-up innings in the UAE, while the other potential candidate, Hales, scored nine in his only opportunity in the middle.

The advantage of promoting Moeen, who has played as opener in one-day international cricket, is that it allows leg-spinner Adil Rashid to come into the XI without dropping a paceman.

The other area of concern for England selectors is behind the stumps.

Jos Buttler averaged 15 during the Ashes, and was rested from the ODI series that followed to give him an opportunity to rest and refresh.

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However, after scores of 1, 8 and 31no in the UAE warm-ups, Bayliss admitted the 'keeper was under pressure to retain his place.

"To be honest, I can't confirm (Buttler's place)," Bayliss said.

"His form has been a concern and for him as well.

"But it was good to see him out there looking like he was getting his touch back this afternoon and scoring some runs. But we've got to make a decision."

Should Buttler be replaced by Jonny Bairstow – who all but sured up his place in the middle-order with an unbeaten 61 against Pakistan A – it would allow James Taylor to return to the side for the first time since August 2012.

Taylor, who was called into the Test squad after impressing against Australia during the ODI series, scored 61 when given an opportunity in the second tour game.

"Playing them both (Bairstow and Taylor) is a possibility, definitely. Nothing's off the table just yet," Bayliss said.

The three-match series will also see Tests played in Dubai (October 22) and Sharjah (November 1), before four ODIs and three Twenty internationals.