England and Pakistan locked horns in the T20 World Cup final earlier this month with the English prevailing by five wickets but the two sides must now turn their attention to the Test format as they prepare for a three-match tussle.

This series had originally been scheduled to take place before last year's T20 World Cup before England pulled out and it will be the first Test series between the two sides since back in 2005. 

James Anderson is the only remaining member of the team that played in that series 17 years ago and, as the team continues to chop and change, there are a handful of players in need of a big series in Pakistan with the Ashes on the horizon. 

England host Australia in the Ashes next June and are 11/8 to come out on top with Australia 1/1 to win and the draw 11/2.

What: Pakistan vs England - 1st Test 
Where: Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi 
When: 04:30, Thursday 1st December 2022 
How to watch: Sky Sports Cricket 
Odds: Pakistan 5/4, Draw 5/2, England 21/10

Livingstone looks to make most of potential Test debut 

The inclusion of Liam Livingstone in England's squad for their Test series with Pakistan would have raised a few eyebrows and the Lancashire batsman may feel he has a point to prove. 

Livingstone made the cut despite having played very little first-class cricket in the last three years, with only eight matches played since 2019. 

In that timeframe, Livingstone's top score was 25 and, while he featured in all of England's recent T20 World Cup matches and is a crucial limited-overs talent, an appearance in this series would represent his England Test debut. 

As well as his skill with the bat, England will be looking to Livingstone as a potential option to be their second spinner with Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed also in contention. 

Bet on the 1st Test of England vs Pakistan

Jennings hopeful of building on fine County Championship form

England had no issues at the very top of the order in the recent T20 World Cup, but it is a different story in Test cricket and one player looking to change that is potential opener Keaton Jennings. 

Jennings last featured for England in a Test match against the West Indies back in 2019, but will return to the fold in Pakistan after a superb summer in which he was top scorer in Division One of the County Championship with 1,233 runs for Lancashire. 

Jennings famously made a century on his Test debut in India back in 2016 but things have gone downhill since then, and he was one of a number of recent England Test openers who have struggled for consistency. 

However, Jennings himself believes he is a different player now and will be looking to show he can translate his domestic form to the international scene against Pakistan. 

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Crawley hopes for better at the top of the order

Zak Crawley is another who has lacked consistency at the top of the order for England but will hope this Pakistan series will give him the platform to go to the next level. 

Crawley has been a regular in England's Test side throughout 2022 and has had some great moments - his century against the Windies back in March perhaps the highlight. 

Despite this, Crawley has failed to hit double figures in five of his last six first innings for England's Test team and has come under scrutiny for how he opens the batting. 

Overton aims to capitalise on Broad absence

Stuart Broad is not included in England's squad to face Pakistan as the veteran bowler and his partner are expecting their first child together during the series. 

And that could open the door for right-arm fast bowler Jamie Overton to make an impact, having previously played in just the one Test for England. 

That was back in June this year against New Zealand when Overton impressed with the bat, striking 97, while the all-rounder also picked up two wickets. 

But with Anderson one of the first names on the team sheet and Ollie Robinson having impressed earlier in the summer, competition for places in England's bowling attack is fierce and Overton is another who will want to emphasise what he is made of in Pakistan. 

Wood needs to show his worth upon return from injury

England paceman Mark Wood will not be able to make an instant impact for his side against Pakistan with a hip injury sustained during the T20 World Cup ruling him out of the series opener. 

But when bowler Wood is back in action, he will be eager to show he deserves to be involved. This is the first time Wood has been selected in an England Test squad since the team's Caribbean tour back in March. 

And, while Wood enjoyed a decent Ashes series down under last year, taking nine wickets in Hobart, he picked up just the one wicket in his last Test against the West Indies in March. 

As mentioned, there are more and more bowlers in contention to start in this England Test team and Wood needs to remind selectors what he can do.