Alastair Cook lamented England’s failure in the batting department yesterday as Pakistan sealed the Test series 2-0.

England needed 284 to win but fell well short, ending in defeat by 127 runs. Plenty of sides have attempted to beat Pakistan at “home” in the United Arab Emirates over the past five years and failed and the Three Lions can add their name to that list.

Cook hailed the display of the seamers over the three games but was left frustrated by inexperienced spinners, batting collapses as well as the lack of concentration in the field which culminated in a loss in Sharjah.

Cook said: “We threw everything at Pakistan for 15 days, with our commitment, our thought, our desire — and in some really testing conditions.

“Our four seamers were outstanding, but the bottom line is we were just weren’t good enough with the bat to repel the Pakistan bowlers at crucial times.

“Then with the ball and in the field, we weren’t able to take those tough half-chances — in particular on Wednesday when the game was still alive.”

Part of the problem for England was the second innings of Mohammad Hafeez, who scored 151 and picked up the man-of-the match award.

“Hafeez has scored more than half their runs in that innings,” said Cook.

“We had three or four chances to get him — none of them easy — but we weren’t good enough to take them.

“I think that summed up the series. We were there or thereabouts but not quite good enough to put Pakistan under pressure or grab that opportunity ourselves.”

Cook admitted England are still inconsistant at this level but gave his side a 10 for the effort put in very testing conditions.

“I can’t fault the lads’ efforts. They’ve been absolutely outstanding,” he said.

“But it’s not down to effort. It’s the crucial moments, we have to front up to it and get better.

“We’re an inconsistent side at the moment.

“I thought we played a bit more consistently here, even more so than in the (Ashes-winning) summer, but we just weren’t quite good enough when it mattered.”

The defeat sees England fall to sixth in the International Cricket Council world rankings and, with a trip to South Africa looming, they could fall further.