Batsmen in a spin: Michael Vaughan

ABU DHABI: While accepting England's top order batsmen were not in the best of form, former England captain Michael Vaughan gave Pakistan due credit for their success in the first two Tests.

"Pakistan are a good side. They are great in these conditions. I think this side is the most committed and professional Pakistan team I have seen," said the 37-year-old on the sidelines of the 2012 Emirates Airline Invitational hosted by Abdullah Al Naboodah at Yas Links in Abu Dhabi.

"They are very athletic and clearly are firing as a unit. They are bowling well and batting in partnerships. They have a few good young players and Saeed Ajmal has been the guy who is a star bowler for them and could win any game," added Vaughan, who played 82 Tests and 86 ODIs for England.

Pakistan won the first Test in just three days by 10 wickets but England fought back well to dominate the first three days of the second Test only to collapse for a meagre 72 chasing a relatively easier target of 145.

"England have too many of their top players out of form with the bat and they obviously seem to be struggling against Ajmal and probably taking their eye off," added Vaughan, who captained England in 51 Tests between 2003 and 2008.

Starting fresh

But Vaughan said it was important for the team to put the failures behind and start fresh in the third and final Test starting from February 3.

"I would want to see how they react in Dubai in the next game and it's purely on character and how they can fight. They had such a good two years where everything went well. This is really the first setback they have had so far and it would be interesting to see how they cope with it.

"All Tests are crucial because players will be probably looking over the shoulders a little bit. Andy Flower [England coach] had said the players have to change the way they play which is difficult since a lot of them are midway through the career and some of them nearing the end. It's difficult to change the way you play overnight and it takes a long time and a lot of hard work," added Vaughan with regard to Flower's comments on the batsmen failing to adapt to the spinner-friendly tracks in the subcontinent.

The former skipper also refused to believe the team were under pressure coming to the UAE as the number one Test team. "I don't look at that. I think rankings are fine. You obviously don't get there without playing good cricket. England have not played any Test matches in the subcontinent barring a couple against Bangladesh.

"India got to number one without playing a lot of games away from home. That's the way; India are now struggling away from home and England are struggling in the subcontinent on spinning conditions," added Vaughan.

When asked if England who have crumbled to spin in this series have the ability to rise to the challenge with the Sri Lanka series in April and India in the autumn, he said: "I'm sure over the next weeks we will know more. They go to Sri Lanka next and it's a tough year for England in terms of the fact that they play in conditions where they haven't played great cricket."