Adil Rashid 'can do anything with the bat', says Rob Key

Rob Key branded Adil Rashid "one of the most talented players I have ever played with" after the Yorkshireman came close to helping England save the second Test against Pakistan.

Rashid scored a plucky 61 before clothing the 172nd ball of his innings to cover as the tourists slipped to a 178-run defeat with six overs and three balls remaining on day five in Dubai.

And Key was impressed by the way the Yorkshireman, who shared stands of 60 with Stuart Broad and 55 with Mark Wood respectively, dealt with Pakistan's slow bowlers.

"He was able to leave the balls just outside off stump that anybody else would get in trouble trying to play at . He really had the measure of Yasir."

"Adil is one of the most talented players I have ever played with," said Key. "He can do anything with the bat.

"I remember feeding him balls on a bowling machine and seeing him hit massive 85mph swingers in to out and almost mucking about.

"He can hit the ball anywhere at any speed so he just needs to put the application in and knuckle down, and he did that in this match, playing good spinners better than probably anybody, bar Joe Root.

"The way he played Yasir Shah, in particular, was brilliant.

"He was able to leave the balls just outside off stump that anybody else would get in trouble trying to play at - he really had the measure of Yasir."

Rashid's dismissal off Yasir saw England move 1-0 down with one to play in the three-Test series ahead of the final game, in Sharjah, from Sunday.

"No one is going to say 'I don't want to play' but sometimes when you are out of nick and nothing is going for you all you want it is a break."

Sir Ian Botham has suggested the tourists should make changes as they look to secure a draw and Jos Buttler could be a prime candidate to miss out, having made scores of 23, four, nought and seven in the opening two Tests in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

But Key says England should take a close look at the wicketkeeper's mental state before they decide whether or not to give him a breather and hand Jonny Bairstow the gloves.

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"I would have a look over the next couple of days and see how Buttler is," added Key. "No one is going to say 'I don't want to play' but sometimes when you are out of nick and nothing is going for you all you want it is a break.

"Other than that maybe, I would look to keep the same side.

"There is a bit of time before the third Test [for players to rest], while Bairstow did okay with the bat and Ian Bell played as well as I have seen him in a while in the second innings."

Live Test Cricket

Check out highlights of England's gripping draw at 5pm on Sky Sports 2, before watching Bob Willis, Dominic Cork and Aamir Sohail dissect the action at 6pm on The Verdict.

Then set your watches for 5.30am on Sunday, November 1 as England and Pakistan meet in Sharjah for the deciding third Test, live on Sky Sports 2.