England in UAE: Sky Cricket pundits pick England team for first Test

England's XI for their opening Test against Pakistan is still anyone's guess.

Questions marks surround Alastair Cook's opening partner - Alex Hales and Moeen Ali are the contenders - as well as how they incorporate two spinners and what impact that will have on the balance of the side.

So what way would former England players - and now valued Sky Sports pundits - Rob Key, Nasser Hussain, Mark Butcher and Bob Willis go? Read on to see who made their line-ups...

ROB KEY'S ENGLAND XI: Cook, Moeen, Bell, Root, Bairstow, Stokes, Buttler, Rashid, Broad, Finn, Anderson

ROB SAYS: "I am a big fan of Hales but I just figure that opening with Moeen is the best way to get double spin into the side. I think Moeen would do a good job up top on the slower-paced pitched in the UAE as he is a good player of spin bowling and could be a more aggressive foil for Cook - but I wouldn't necessarily keep him in that positon for South Africa. I gave no thought at all to dropping Jos Buttler; he is a wonderful talent and although he is struggling for form at the moment I think he will develop a lot quicker by staying in the team, even if he has a bad time of it in the UAE. I have picked Steve Finn in my bowling attack because he earned the shirt with his brilliant Ashes comeback and will be a big threat if the pitch has a bit of bounce, but if the track is likely to be turgid, I would look towards Wood and his reverse swing. Both are equally good bowlers so, for me, that selection is horses for courses, which unfortunately is a bowler's lot."

NASSER HUSSAIN'S ENGLAND XI: Cook, Moeen, Bell, Root, Taylor/Bairstow, Stokes, Buttler, Rashid, Broad, Wood, Anderson

NASSER SAYS: "I think James Taylor is a very good player of spin and will be pushing Jonny Bairstow, and perhaps even Ian Bell, for a spot in the side. It's an important couple of Tests for Bell, but I think if Taylor does come in, it will first be for Bairstow. He is a very busy cricketer and is a serious option in conditions suited to his game in the UAE. Hales had a great opportunity to stake his clam to open in the ODIs against Australia but didn't take it, although there is still huge potential in him. There are concerns with Moeen against the short ball looking ahead to South Africa when he should face the likes of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel but you have to take every tour as it comes, so I would open with him here. Adil Rashid must play, too; he has waited patiently for his turn and deserves his chance. It won't be about conventional swing on this tour, though, so I think Wood's reverse-swing potential - and his batting coming in at No.10 - gives him the edge over Finn."

MARK BUTCHER'S ENGLAND XI: Cook, Hales, Bell, Root, Moeen, Stokes, Buttler, Rashid, Broad, Finn, Anderson

MARK SAYS: "England picked Hales as the specialist opener on this trip and I, for one, hope that they pick him to play. There has been a lot of talk that Moeen could open because of the different conditions in the UAE but Pakistan's quick bowlers are exceptional no matter what the conditions. Moeen has got a lot on his plate in terms of being England's number one spinner; to ask him to open the batting, take wickets and win Test matches for you with the ball is, for me, too much. I hope Hales gets a run at it; if he does well then there's the trip to South Africa coming up straight after that, where England are going to need a specialist opener. If Alex is the selection they make, though, it's then up to him to nail down the position. Two spinners is a must but by leaving out Bairstow I can also play three front-line quicks plus Ben Stokes and still bat deep. Yet, Bairstow and Wood could come in for Buttler and Finn respectively depending on form and fitness."

BOB WILLIS' ENGLAND XI: Cook, Hales, Bell, Root, Moeen, Stokes, Buttler, Rashid, Broad, Finn, Anderson

BOB SAYS: "Moeen has been mooted as horses for courses selection at the top of the order but there is enough strength in the Pakistan seam attack to worry him and we can't keep having this revolving-door policy with Cook's opening partners. Adam Lyth was given seven Tests this summer to prove his worth and I think Hales deserves the same this winter. If he fails, though, then England are going to have to think very seriously about Joe Root going back up to open. Bell didn't have a great summer but is a quality player of spin - save for one or two occasions when tries to be too dominant, has a rush of blood and scoops the ball up in the air - and will be refreshed after sitting out England's one-day cricket, so he stays in my team, too. I am also keeping faith with Buttler behind the stumps. He needs to find some form but is such a prodigious talent that I wouldn't drop him and give Bairstow, someone who has never convinced with the bat at Test level, the gloves."

England's tour of the UAE to play Pakistan is live on Sky Sports, starting with the opening Test, in Abu Dhabi, on Tuesday, October 13.

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