James Anderson: England team less experienced but not weakened than 2012

After Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq claimed that the current England Test team is quite weaker than the one they defeated in 2012 series, England star pace man James Anderson has hit out saying that England‘s 16 man Test squad for the series is low on experience. "I wouldn't say we're weaker. I'd say we're less experienced," Anderson said. "The quality and talent that we've got in the side is easily a match for the side that came out here in 2012. "We're fortunate we've got players that have played out here before and can offer experience to those guys that haven't. Hopefully that will stand us in good stead. FULL SCORECARD: Pakistan vs England 2015, 1st Test at Abu Dhabi Andrew Strauss and Matthew Prior was also a part of the England team that lost all three Tests against Pakistan in 2012 series with margins of 10 wicket and 72 , 71 run respectively. Speaking to cricket.com.au earlier for his exclusive column Misbah said that “ England may appear to be weak compared to the team we faced on their last visit in 2012” hinting towards the absence of players such as Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen , Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar from their current squad. "Their spinners back then, Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar, were more experienced and destructive and I feel England are going to miss them,” Misbah wrote. Preview: Confident hosts look to re-enact 2012 script with new heroes The first Test between England and Pakistan begins tomorrow in Abu Dhabi, with Pakistan already suffering a blow in the form of Azhar Ali, who has been ruled out following a foot infection look to bank on their spinner. Misbah has termed leg-spinner Yasir Shah and Left armer Zulfiqar Babar as Pakistan most valuable asset after Saeed Ajmal was omitted from the squad. Mohammad Hafeez will purely play as a batsman in the team as he is still serving a 12-month ban for bowling with an illegal action. Ajmal who took 24 wickets in 2012 series against England has been struggling to come to terms with his altered bowling action has become less effective. Pakistan are high on confidence after winning their Test series against Sri Lanka earlier this year are looking forward to keeping their home playing record unscarred after an emphatic series win against the Australia in UAE last year. On the other hand, England look to built on their momentum after winning the Ashes and also prove to everyone that they can play well even abroad. James Anderson is expected to be back in on the field for the first Test after missing the final two matchesof the Ashes with a side strain. Anderson managed to keep himself safe and carried on to compete in two matches for Lancashire in county cricket and also a warm-up match in UAE. "I've played a couple of games for Lancashire and got into some form there and came through unscathed," Anderson said. "I've not felt any issues at all so I'm raring to go." ALSO READ: Younis Khan set to surpass “legend and idol” Javed Miandad during Test series vs England Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes that James Anderson England’s highest wicket take in Test should be not played for the first Test match against Pakistan. "England should not make the mistake of picking players on their past,” Vaughan wrote in a column for The Telegraph."We have done that before. If conditions in Abu Dhabi do not favour (Anderson’s) 82mph swing then why pick Jimmy? Perhaps go with a third spinner in Samit Patel. Pakistan will hit England with three spinners.” England rested their pace battery of Anderson , Stuart Broad and Mark Wood for the second warm up match against Pakistan A. The visitors are likely to field Ben Stokes with the trio to form a potent pace attack in the first Test. Steven Finn made his stake for a place in the Team after picking up four wickets in the warm up game he played. "I’d still be surprised if I played the first Test,” Finn said  ALSO READ: Joe Root believes England could snatch historic Test series win against Pakistan in UAE "(But) I don’t think the same bowling attack is going to play all the way through the series because of the conditions and the wickets we’re playing on," Finn said. "So if you don’t play the first Test it’s not the end of the world because there are two others in very quick succession to come." Main talking point for England still remains to be its opening after Yorkshire batsman Adam Lyth is all set to be replaced. This was answered by England coach Trevor Bayliss as he played Moeen Ali in the second warm up match to get accustomed to the role of an opener. "I think at this stage Mo has probably got his nose in front," Bayliss said. "It’s probably not ideal. We’ve got Alex Hales here who we know can be an explosive batter. But I think Mo has shown he’s a good player against spin, he can play the pace bowling and he’s handled the pressure during that Ashes series. "Mo is a good enough player that he could actually be the answer. Yes, it’s not perfect, we know that, but Mo’s the type of player who could very well turn himself into that other opener." Bayliss will also have his hands full as he tries to choose their wicketkeeper as Jos Buttler who played in the Ashes averaged only 15, was rested from the ODI series. Buttler made scores of 1, 8 and 31no in the warm up matches he played in UAE. Bayliss admitted the ‘keeper was under pressure to retain his place. Bayliss admitted the ‘keeper was under pressure to retain his place. "To be honest, I can’t confirm (Buttler’s place),” Bayliss said. "His form has been a concern and for him as well. But it was good to see him out there looking like he was getting his touch back this afternoon and scoring some runs. But we’ve got to make a decision. “ Playing them both (Bairstow and Taylor) is a possibility, definitely. Nothing’s off the table just yet,” Bayliss said. With Bairstow and Taylor both making half centuries in the warm up matches they have made quite a case for themselves for a spot in the Test team. The Test series will be played in UAE with the first Test at Abu Dhabi (October 13) , second Test Dubai (October 22 ) and third Test Sharjah (November 1), with the teams also playing four ODIs and three Twenty20 International.