'Youthful' England can beat Pakistan: Gillespie

Former Test fast bowler Jason Gillespie is tipping England’s tour against Pakistan next month to produce a dramatically different outcome to the whitewash of 2012.

England were ranked the No.1 Test team when they travelled to the United Arab Emirates to play Pakistan three years ago, but were tormented by off-spinner Saeed Ajmal as they lost 3-0.

Quick single: Hales, Taylor named in Test squad

Gillespie, who coached Yorkshire to a second successive county cricket title last week, said England had named the right squad to perform well away from home.

"Taking on Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates is a tough assignment but after seeing the squad England have selected for the tour, a repeat of the 3-0 Test series defeat suffered last time does not look on the cards for me,” Gillespie wrote in his column for The Guardian.

"I wouldn’t rule out an away win, either.

"Alastair Cook’s side may be less experienced than the one three years ago but there are good players of spin in that batting line-up and the collective mindset is strong; they will not carry scars from 2012, only a youthful positivity.”

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England struggled in 2012 // Getty Images

Gillespie also expressed his sympathy for Yorkshire batsman Adam Lyth, who was dropped from the Test squad following an Ashes series that saw him average 12.77 as opener.

"His seven Tests have been against two good attacks in challenging conditions and the simple but harsh reality is that cricketers are judged on output,” he said.

"There were no question marks over Joe Root, for example, leading up to the announcement because – and I have said this before – players are their own best selectors.”

Alex Hales was brought into the squad and is a potential replacement for Lyth at the top of the order, along with allrounder Moeen Ali.

"Hales is an X-factor cricketer, which we at Yorkshire saw early this season when he made 236 against us on a Trent Bridge pitch that was doing a bit,” Gillespie said.

"The idea of Moeen opening the batting alongside Cook, which would get the extra spinner in while keeping four quicks, has been floated and it is not something I am against.

"I don’t see why a strokemaker cannot bat there and this left-hander has already shown he is one hell of a cricketer.”

Gillespie also praised the decision to appoint legendary Sri Lanka batsman Mahela Jayawardene as a consultant for the Test series, and former skipper Paul Collingwood for the limited-overs portion of the tour.

"He is one of the game’s loveliest blokes, who will bring a wealth of experience having done it in all conditions and against all attacks.

"Paul Collingwood comes in for the white-ball leg of the tour and will bring both energy and a ruthless streak into the setup.”

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Jayawardene brings a wealth of experience to England // Getty Images

His thoughts were echoed by England batsman Ian Bell, who said Jayawardene could help improve the team’s record on the subcontinent.

"The one thing we need to do is get better on the subcontinent, and he's one of the best ever," Bell said on Tuesday.

"To have his input leading into the series, and all the preparation, is going to be huge for us.

"He was certainly hard to get out in those conditions, so I'll be picking his brain all the way through if I can, probably badgering him a bit too much, but trying to get everything I can out of him to make my game better."

Bell said he believed either Hales or Moeen were capable of succeeding at the top of the order.

"Experience tells me in the UAE you have to be flexible, you have to go for a different style of cricket," he said.

"If Mo does get an opportunity to open the batting then it gives us another slot for us to get another bowler in, which is interesting.

"It's a squad with a lot of possibilities."