Mushtaq Ahmed believes the battle between Graeme Swann and Saeed Ajmal will go a long way to deciding who comes out on top in UAE.
'Brilliant Swann' holds the key for England, says coach
England's spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed believes the battle between Graeme Swann and Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal will go a long way to deciding who comes out on top in the upcoming Test series.
Former Pakistan leg spinner Mushtaq has been working as a spin bowling consultant with England for the last three years and was recently given a fresh two-year contract by the ECB.
He will join the England team in the United Arab Emirates in the New Year, as the world number one-ranked nation prepare for a Test and one-day series against Pakistan in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
And Mushtaq believes the battle between Swann and Ajmal - two of the world's most highly-rated spin bowlers - will have a huge say in the series.
Brilliant
"England has been preparing hard for this series and I have tried to convince them that they must learn to depend on spin if they want to win in the Asian region." Mushtaq said.
"I see this series as a big challenge for the English and Pakistani spinners and there is going to be tough competition between Swann (Graeme) and (Saeed) Ajmal, who are the best off-spinners in the business today.
"It will depend on what sort of pitches are prepared for the series but I sense they will give assistance to the slow bowlers.
"But Swann and Ajmal are bowlers of a quality who can trouble anyone, even on even tracks. Swann has been brilliant for England in the last two years."
The two sides play three Tests and a one-day and Twenty20 series, which is taking place outside Pakistan due to security concerns.
