DUBAI is a great holiday destination and if it requires any endorsement for its powers of relaxation then the Department of Tourism need look no further than the England cricket team.

Let’s hope that right now the predicted featherbed of a pitch in Abu Dhabi is not inducing similar slumbering indifference!

Prior to the First Test against Pakistan there appeared a distinct air of complacency within the camp linked with the pervading bluster of playground bullies strutting the moral high ground, which induced distinct unease from this correspondent.

Surely, I mused, Andy Flower and his management team would be acutely conscious that the mercurial and talented Pakistanis would view these encounters as seeking retribution for the perceived injustice they endured last summer in England and come out fighting like proverbial tigers. But, alas, as it transpired, sadly not.

The aftermath post-mortems included allusions to the bent wrist beneath the buttoned-down sleeve and bowling action of chief tormentor Saeed Ajmal, that they had been taken by “surprise” and, of course, the customary “bad day at the office” was trotted out.

In truth, they simply weren’t mentally prepared and Sir Beefy Botham was spot on in his chastisement “Becoming the world’s No.1 is a tremendous achievement but staying there is even harder.”

The fragility of Andrew Strauss and his fellow batters also rendered the ex-pats resident in the UAE speechless and highly embarrassed in front of not only their Asian and Arab colleagues but paroled and deported Aussies, who were almost beside themselves in heaping scorn and derision on their Pommmie pals.

England appeared ignorant of the local tribal fervour of such exiles, which underlined a recent impression that maybe the newly-acquired riches of our cricketers is leading them to a parallel universe comparable to their footballing counterparts in being out of step with reality.

By way of justification, please note Kevin Pietersen is in permanent denial when questioned on his poor form and Jonathan Trott was recently asked his favourite holiday destination to which he answered: “Las Vegas, because it has all the components of the ideal holiday within a small town”.

Really, Jonathan, or was that tongue in cheek?

Most hard-working people seek sea, sand, sun and repose, not a timeless, clamouring, glitzy trek where sticky fingers invade your wallet round every corner.