Mike Gatting expected James Taylor to replace Jos Buttler

Mike Gatting believes James Taylor should be given a chance to make his Test return against Pakistan at the expense of Jos Buttler.

Taylor has not featured for his country in the long form of the game since facing South Africa in 2012, but was recalled to the squad for the three-match series in the United Arab Emirates.

The Nottinghamshire batsman was overlooked for the drawn first Test in Abu Dhabi last week, as Jonny Bairstow stayed at number five and the tourists kept faith with Buttler despite his poor form with the bat.

Former England captain Gatting expected Taylor to come in at five, with Bairstow taking the gloves and moving down the order.

"There's a lot of things you've got to do well - especially our engine room of Bairstow, (Ben) Stokes and Buttler, who perhaps haven't played against a lot of spin in the UK," Gatting told Omnisport, as England prepare for the second Test in Dubai, which starts on Thursday.

"They will have to try and adapt quickly. I thought that Taylor might play and they might leave Jos Buttler out and play Bairstow, because Taylor is a very good player of spin.

"For me, Joe Root is a good player of spin, Belly's (Ian Bell) not a bad player of spin and then you'd have somebody like Taylor in there at five before you get into the Bairstows and the Stokes. That would give you a bit more solidity, but we'll see.

"They're talented cricketers [and] they're going to have to learn at some stage. There's no point keep trying to protect them. They're going to be challenged and it's going to be interesting to see how they come through that challenge."

Gatting was speaking to Omnisport at the Sugar Ridge Resort on behalf of the Lord's Taverners, who are creating sporting chances in Antigua and Barbuda.