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Paul Farbrace hopeful of England success in Test series with Pakistan

Paul Farbrace: England assistant coach
Image: Paul Farbrace thinks England have unfinished business against Pakistan

Paul Farbrace is optimistic of a better return than England experienced three years ago when they begin their latest Test series with Pakistan next week.

Alastair Cook's team are currently between warm-up matches ahead of the three-match contest with their opponents in the United Arab Emirates.

In many ways, the tourists have unfinished business to tend to after the way they were beaten there early in 2012.

Having just risen to the top of the world rankings, they were defeated 3-0 and veterans of that tour, including Cook, are looking to make the most of their chance to make up for that.

England go into the series - which starts in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday - off the back of a memorable summer after their Ashes success against Australia.

While the meetings with Pakistan are a hazardous stepping stone to future progress, assistant coach Farbrace feels Cook and the squad have the right motivation to fare well.

England captain Alastair Cook bats during day one of the tour match between Pakistan A and England at Sharjah
Image: Alastair Cook bats during the tour match between Pakistan A and England

He said: "We've senior players who've been here and experienced it. I think there was a feeling that - although they lost the last Test series here 3-0 - it was one they could quite easily have won.

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"They didn't, that's history and it's gone now but I think we've got a great chance with this group to play some really good cricket and we're looking to be as positive as we possibly can be.

"We're coming here knowing it's going to be a very, very tough series. I said at the end of the Australian series I expected this to be a tougher series for us to play in.

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England had to show resolve to get both runs and wickets in their drawn tour opener with Pakistan A and while they have shown promise, there is room for improvement too.

Farbrace added: "We knew it was going to be tough, very different obviously from conditions we've just played in the Ashes.

"The application with the ball was outstanding. We saw how players adapted quite quickly to the situation and conditions.

Moeen Ali of England celebrates with team-mates after dismissing Khurram Manzoor of Pakistan A during day two of their tour match in Sharjah
Image: England drew their opening warm-up match of their tour with Pakistan A in Sharjah

"The one thing we've had a chat about is that, to win a Test match, you've got to take 20 chances - and we've missed a couple of chances.

"That's something we'll have to work very hard on and something we prided ourselves on in the Ashes series.

"We've still got a good few days to go, so there'll be plenty of catching (practice) done but, generally, I think we had a really good two days."

England's Moeen Ali celebrates a wicket with Ian Bell during the tour match against Pakistan A in Sharjah
Image: Moeen Ali (right) looks like being England's preferred option at the top of the order in the Test series

It appears Moeen Ali is the preferred option at the top of the order ahead of uncapped Alex Hales but there will likely be two spinners in the side, with Adil Rashid joining Ali.

Farbrace said: "Everybody in the 16, I think, genuinely has an opportunity at this stage. I wouldn't rule anything in or out.

"I think we need to keep our options open as long as we possibly can. Mo's had first go in this practice game and we were very pleased with the way he applied himself."

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