Thrashed inside three days in Dubai and resigned to a 72-run defeat in the second Test in Abu Dhabi, England face a daunting task come the third and final match against Pakistan in Dubai next week.

Having thrashed India four-nil to rise to the top of the Test rankings last year, England have since come crashing down to earth, with a series defeat to a team four positions lower than them in the rankings hard to swallow for coach Andy Flower and company.

England's greatest plight has been their inability to succeed over Pakistan spinners. Saeed Ajmal's 10-wicket haul was at the forefront of their demise in the series opener, while Abdur Rehman's second-innings six-for had the English crash to a mere 72 all out on Saturday.

"We expect to learn and learn quickly - and that is a big part of our job, of my job," said Flower. "I thought in the first innings some of our batsmen did an excellent job.

"Jonathan Trott and Alastair Cook were outstanding in that partnership of 145. Stuart Broad was outstanding; he played an aggressive, courageous knock to give us the lead - that was a match-turning performance from him both with ball and bat.

"But yes, there were familiar mistakes. We need our batsmen to learn - very obviously."

While the likes of Cook and Trott have seemed capable, for the most part, the shoddy form of Eoin Morgan and Andrew Strauss is a cause for concern for Flower. England are not going to drop their captain, but Morgan might have to sit out the third and final Test in order for Ravi Bopara to be given an opportunity.

The left-handed Morgan has averaged a mere 10.25 in four innings across the UAE. Alternatively, Bopara might be drafted in ahead of Ian Bell, whose four knocks have brought him just 36 runs. Bell, in particular, has struggled against Ajmal's doosra delivery.

"Continuity of selection has been part of our strength, but very obviously we have to pick players who are most adept at dealing with these conditions," added Flower.

"Indeed, that is what we have tried to do. We have lost the series now - and, of course, we have to go into this third Test and pick what we think is the best XI to try and win the game.

"If that means making a change here and there, then we won't be afraid to do that. This is a great challenge for all of us. The issues are not going to disappear.

"So we've got to face these issues with skill and a bit of courage. Each individual will have to work very hard in working out his method of scoring."

The third Test gets underway on Friday.