Steven Finn ruled out of England’s first Test against Pakistan

Pakistan also had an injury worry ahead of today’s Test, leg-spinner Yasir Shah suffering a back spasm in practice.

Misbah-ul-Haq: It’s unfortunate that Yasir Shah will miss this Test because of injury. They are very talented, have bowled very well in the lead-up to the Test and we are all excited to see how they get on. Pakistan are relying heavily on Yasir and fellow left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar to win the three-match series in the United Arab Emirates.

The 29-year-old Shah has been key to Pakistan since the departure of Saeed Ajmal, who was banned by the global Cricket Council for an illegal bowling action. “We just have to hope for the best”, he said, according to Express. If they show a few patience and last a day and two sessions in any one innings, Eng- land will be left with a mountain to climb to get back into the match.

Pakistan top-order batsman Azhar Ali will miss out on playing the first Test against England due to a foot infection.

But Cook has reason to be upbeat going into the three-Test series and believes in the playing squad. Azhar’s absence will put more pressure on Younus Khan, Misbah and Sarfraz Ahmed to shoulder the batting.

Two significant injuries have hampered Pakistan s build-up for the current series. That being said in the last 15 years have won series in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India. “We can not say anything at the moment”, Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq said.

“We have talent and character in our dressing room”.

Whatever the fine-tuning of personnel, Cook is looking forward to being tested here again.

“That could be a big blow for us”.

“He’s clearly a fantastic bowler who not many of us have faced in Test or four-day cricket, and he’s obviously had a good start to his Test career”.

Fans booking corporate hospitality for the Kia Oval Test between England and Pakistan next year may get more of an idea of the possible make-up of the sides based on their performances in the UAE, particularly in terms of which bowlers or batsmen perform best against particular opponents.

“It’s a bitter blow for him, he bowled really well in that warm-up match”, said Cook.

Anderson admitted facing a formidable Pakistan.

Moeen Ali is in the lead to play as opener in a makeshift arrangement, despite never having opened even in a first-class match, with additional duties of bowling off-spin.

If that happens, Moeen will be Cook’s seventh partner since Andrew Strauss retired in 2012.

“We’ll play positively, but there will be times when you come in, the first 30 or 40 balls, four or five men around the bat – you could have half an hour before tea”.