But England will be reluctant to drop a batsman for the second Test, starting on Wednesday.
So Andy Flower and Andrew Strauss must decide whether to pick an extra spinner - Monty Panesar - alongside Graeme Swann.
England last played two spinners together in a Test match in March 2010 when James Tredwell partnered Swann against Bangladesh.
So, with Chris Tremlett the likeliest to make way, would England be doing the right thing on an expected flat track in Abu Dhabi, especially after Saeed Ajmal's exploits?