England batsmen gear up for Pakistan Tests

SHARJAH: England batsmen tuned up for the Test series against Pakistan starting next week with Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root and skipper Alastair Cook hitting half-centuries in a two-day match against Pakistan A on Monday.

Bairstow hit an unbeaten 66 while Root (59) and Cook (53) showed good pre-series form as England made 286-5 on the first day of the match at Sharjah stadium.

Bairstow hit four boundaries and a six during his 112-ball stay and confidently negotiated a variety of spin, something which England will have to face in the first Test against Pakistan starting in Abu Dhabi from October 13.

Root hit five boundaries in his 97-ball knock to continue the form which helped him win the man-of-the-series award in England´s 3-2 Ashes triumph against Australia back home in August.

Cook was also in good nick, playing 130 balls before becoming one of three wickets for left-arm spinner Zafar Gohar.

Gohar, who as 16th member of the Pakistan squad is one of few players on the selectors´ test radar, took 3-72 while paceman Zia-ul Haq and Iftikhar Ahmed took a wicket apiece.

Moeen Ali, favourite to open the innings with Cook in Tests, made 22 after England won the toss and decided to bat.

Middle-order batsmen Ian Bell (19) and Jos Butler (one) -- also fell to Gohar, while Ben Stokes made six. But they all have one more practice game, also against the same opposition at the same venue on October 8 and 9, to get into runs.