Ajmal puts England in a spin on day one in Dubai

ENGLAND face a real battle to win the first Test against Pakistan after a poor batting display on the openingday of the three-Test series in Dubai.

Andrew Strauss’s men were bowled out for 192, having been 43-5 at one stage in the morning session, and theyare out to 6-1 to win the match.

England’s batsmen looked helpless against the spin of Saeed Ajmal, who claimed career-best figures of 7-55, as only Matt Prior (70 not out) offered any resistance. Prior had been a 12-1 shot to top-score in the first innings.

Pakistan ended the first day on 42-0, just 150 runs short of England’s total, and they are 4-9 to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Kevin Pietersen flopped once more, falling lbw for two and Hills go 7-1 that the out-of-form batsman is dropped for the second Test. He is 8-1 with the firm to make a duck in the second innings, 11-8 to reach 50 and 5-1 to score a century.