Summary James Taylor praised England batsmen's ability to negotiate Pakistan spinners in ODI series.
SHARJAH (AFP) - James Taylor Monday praised his fellow England batsmen s ability to negotiate Pakistan spinners in the one-day series, saying the talent in the limited over team is exceptional.
England meet Pakistan in the third of four one-day internationals in Sharjah on Tuesday, with the series tied at 1-1.
Pakistan won the first game by six wickets while England levelled with a thumping 95-run win in the second -- both in Abu Dhabi.
Pakistan s spinners have managed just four wickets in the two one-day internationals, which Taylor believes is down to his team s ability to counter spin.
"A lot of credit has to go to our batsmen and the way they ve played Yasir (Shah)," said Taylor.
Pakistan s leg-spinner Shah, who took 15 wickets in the preceding 2-0 Tests series win, has taken just one wicket in two games and was ruled out of the third with a knee injury.
"I think the boys in general have played spin pretty well on this trip. I think the talent we ve got in this one-day group is exceptional, we showed glimpses of that in the second match."
Taylor, who at 5 foot, two inches (1.6metres) is the shortest player around, said facing Pakistan paceman Mohammad Irfan -- the tallest-ever to play cricket at 7feet, one inch (2.2m) -- was amusing.
"I haven t suddenly become this small overnight. I ve been around the lads for a while now, so it s nothing different. He s (Irfan) just an exceptionally tall bowler, so it s always amusing when I come up against him.
"I had neckache for half-an-hour afterwards," said Taylor. "I quite enjoy facing the big guys, because it means the ball should bounce - and that plays to my strengths.
"But he s obviously exceptionally tall, and I m pretty short - so the height difference is quite funny. I find it amusing looking up at him, and I m sure everybody else around the ground did as well."
Taylor, who scored a half-century in the third and final Test in Sharjah, said he has learnt how to play on dry sub-continent pitches.
"I ve learned a lot, playing again in the sub-continent, how tough the environment and the conditions are - and how good a side Pakistan are.
"As a team we ve learned a lot, and I think that is the most important thing. But most importantly, we ve come here to win - and so far, we re won one and lost one. So it s all to play for.
"We know they re going to come back hard at us."
