ENGLAND'S four-Test series against Pakistan may not have the glamour of last summer's Ashes series but it could be just as crucial to their hopes of retaining cricket's legendary urn.
Without the Ashes at stake the country is unlikely to become so gripped by the action, which starts tomorrow at Lord's, but it is just as crucial a series for an England side preparing to visit Australia.
Last summer's dramatic triumph proved the value of momentum with England's confidence lifted by five successive series victories prior to the Ashes.
This time the situation may be completely different after winning just two Tests from the last 10 and having failed to win a series since those memorable scenes at The Oval.
That disappointing run, influenced by a lengthy casualty list, leaves England desperate for a change of fortunes against Pakistan who claimed a 2-0 home victory when the two met during the winter.
There have been mitigating circumstances -- not least the absence of Michael Vaughan (knee), Andrew Flintoff (ankle), Simon Jones (knee) and Ashley Giles (hip) -- but it is time for England to deliver.
"From our point of view we've been redeveloping the squad since we got to Pakistan, in both one-dayers and Test matches," claimed coach Duncan Fletcher.
"When we developed a squad to win the Ashes all under the age of 30 we thought 'Here we go, there are four years of cricket left in this team, let's build on that', but we have ended up with four or five players missing all the time."
With only four Tests remaining before Fletcher and the selectors have to name their squad to defend the Ashes this winter, they may have to begin planning their campaign Down Under without some key players.
Vaughan is already ruled out, the future of Flintoff remains uncertain after more ankle problems, while Glamorgan seamer Jones will almost certainly be missing after another operation on his knee.
Without such experience England have relied on a young team and the inconsistency which comes with that, underlined when they dominated the opening two Tests against Sri Lanka but ended up drawing the series after the tourists won at Trent Bridge.
"We took quite a big knock from that," conceded Fletcher. "With a young side you have to be patient. They are learning their roles, gaining that experience. How long did it take us to get that side together that won the Ashes?
"Look at the case of Simon Jones -- people were wondering what we were doing with him in the side but by the end of the Ashes we had a world beater. It took us time to develop him as it does with young players."
Unlike Sri Lanka, who were a developing young side themselves, Pakistan have a formidable line-up all capable of performing in English conditions, so the option of developing slowly may not be available to Fletcher.
Even without the pace and hostility of former Worcestershire player Shoaib Akhtar, Pakistan have enough in their attack to trouble an England batting line-up who struggled throughout against Sri Lanka.
Then there is also the firepower among Pakistan's batting line-up, which features Shahid Afridi and captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, to worry an England attack likely to be missing several key players.
But for all England's injury problems over the last year, Fletcher will know the time is now ripe to begin delivering consistently if they are to seriously challenge for a second successive Ashes success.
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