England Test skipper Alastair Cook believes his batsmen are well prepared to deal with Pakistan's fiery attack next month after getting plenty of practice in the middle against a weakened Sri Lanka side.
England crushed Sri Lanka 2-0 in the three-Test home series, facing little resistance from a team shorn of frontline pacemen Dushmantha Chameera and Dhammika Prasad through injury at stages during the tour.
However, Cook's side can expect a far-bigger challenge from a formidable Pakistani pace attack, spearheaded by left-armers Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz, supplemented by tricky legspinner Yasir Shah.
"They've got a very good pace attack, backed up with spinners," Cook said after the rain-hit final Test against Sri Lanka ended in a tame draw at Lord's.
"But we're ready for them. We scored a lot of runs against Australia's attack here last year. I think it's going to be a brilliant series."
Amir returns after serving a five-year ban following a spot-fixing scandal in England, while the four-match series will be Shah's first since serving a three-month suspension for a doping violation.
Cook is delighted to finally have a stable opening partner in Alex Hales, finishing the series against Sri Lanka as the second-highest scorer with 292 runs from five innings.
The 27-year-old Hales had averaged just 17 in his debut Test series in South Africa earlier this year, struggling to make the transition from limited-overs cricket.
"Three scores of 80 and above from Alex Hales was really pleasing," Cook said of his eighth opening partner since Andrew Strauss retired in 2012.
"He's certainly tightened up his game from South Africa and probably just learned about Test cricket."
Wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow was top-scorer against Sri Lanka to claim man of the series.
Cook hailed Bairstow's batting but admitted he had room for improvement behind the stumps.
"It's great to have an attacking batsman coming in and taking it to the opposition. He's been very similar to Matt Prior when he was at his best."
"He knows how hard he has to work at his keeping ... He knows a couple of chances have gone down, but you don't become a world-class wicketkeeper overnight.
"He's made big strides since that South Africa series and is certainly heading in the right direction."
Pakistan will play four Tests, five ODIs and a Twenty20 in England from July 14-September 7.
