DUBAI, Jan 12: Pakistan pace spearhead Umar Gul on Thursday showed readiness for the strong challenge that world No 1 Test team England pose in the threeTest series starting here next week.

The 27-year-old paceman, now leading the attack after Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir were banned in the 2010 spot-fixing case, said he and fellow players will be at their best against the top team.

'No doubt England is a very good team and they are number one in Tests, said Umar of England who rose to number one in August last year.

'We are also playing good cricket and are ready for any challenge they pose.' Umar said an unbeaten run has lifted the Pakistan team, who will start the first of three Tests, starting here from Tuesday, with extra confidence.

'There is no substitute to doing well and because we have done well in the last one year our morale is very high and the conditions [in the UAE] will also help us as we are playing here for three years now,' said Umar.

Umar admitted a strong England batting line-up with mature openers in Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook will be a big challenge.-AFP