Prior confident England can bounce back from Dubai dip

Andrew Strauss’s tourists, in their first series as the International Cricket Council’s official No 1 Test team, have not hidden from the fact their own batting let them down badly in the 10-wicket hammering in Dubai.

As they moved on from Dubai to Abu Dhabi yesterday, most with wives and girlfriends in tow having spent the first three weeks on tour as single occupants, there was an optimism and determination that they will quickly recover their composure – and no little pride – against Saeed Ajmal et al.

They must do that, of course, to stay alive in a three-Test series which decamps to the Zayed Cricket Stadium this week and will then conclude back in Dubai.

If England are to retrace their steps still able to open their tough 2012 schedule with a winning series, in alien climes, they will have to come to terms with off-spinner Ajmal’s deceptions and variations. They will not be obsessing about him, or his action, though because England know they simply have to put their own house in order.

“This performance has given us a real good slap in the face,” wicketkeeper Matt Prior said of England’s three-day humbling in Dubai.

“We’re a proud team. We’re a proud bunch of players. We’re used to walking off the pitch, having inflicted the sort of defeat they inflicted upon us – so it was a very bitter pill to swallow. No one in this team enjoyed it one little bit.

“It’s taken a few days to get over it, but now there is a real determination that it will not happen again.”

The lessons of Dubai will be headed by England’s costly diffidence against Ajmal in particular.

But Prior warns of the dangers if England focus too much not just on the threat Ajmal poses but also on mutterings from afar that the off-spinner’s bowling delivery occasionally pushes the limits of legality, as prescribed by the ICC.

“The obvious thing is how we play spin and how we play Saeed Ajmal,” he said.

“But it’s important we don’t get caught up with just one bloke.

“Umar Gul came in and took wickets in the second innings, so we just need to improve (our general game), really.”

Ajmal took a career-best 7-55 in England’s dismal first innings, and ended up with a 10-wicket match haul.

Yet controversy reigned after former England captain Bob Willis, a broadcast pundit back in London these days, began posing pointed questions about the angle of Ajmal’s arm in delivery.

Prior and captain Strauss quickly distanced England from the debate, but coach Andy Flower’s remarks were not quite so effective on that score.

Umpires and match referee have seen no reason to investigate Ajmal’s action following the first Test.

Prior said: “The ICC have stuff in place. We shouldn’t worry about things we don’t have to worry about.”