England wicketkeeper Matt Prior points finger of suspicion at Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal's action As the top-ranked Test team, it is right that England are mindful of the bad PR that would arise from complaining too overtly. But, Strauss apart, and he has to be neutral at least until his next book is out, there still seems to be a concerted effort not to appease Pakistan over this. "We've got to be very careful because the minute you start accusing people of doing things and playing differently it can be perceived as excuses as well," said Prior. When you haven't performed, or performed like we have, the last thing you want to be doing is making excuses. Not whingeing about Ajmal's action may help stiffen resolve behind closed doors but when they face him on the pitch batsmen are alone and there to be picked off. How best to cope with that, even on a pitch as traditionally benign as the one here in the Skeikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, is surely more important than playing mind games. "Everyone will have their own way of playing him, but I think you have to have a clarity of game plan, that is the most important thing about playing spin, especially against someone who can spin it both ways," said Prior. He's quite tough to pick, which makes it tricky. But if you can't pick him you have to find a way that gives you the best opportunity to survive long enough that you start to see his action, and the ball, better. Whether that comes from trying to sit in for a bit or attacking him to put the pressure back on the bowler, is a very individual thing. Had Prior failed in Dubai, it might have been because his own clarity of mind had been affected by the England and Wales Cricket Board's decision not to award him a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to take part in the Bangladesh Premier League, which begins on Feb 10. Prior, whose price was £75,000, badly wanted to play but said he accepted the ECB decision, which was based on advice from the Professional Cricketers' Association. The PCA was not happy that proper duty of care was in place over safety and security, which meant that Prior, Chris Tremlett and Graham Onions, from the Test squad here, were refused the NOCs required for their participation. How England's view of spinner's action has hardened On his action, it's not something that we are concerned about or talk about in the dressing room. It's got nothing to do with us. If other people want to do that, then it's up to them. Matt Prior refuses to lay into Ajmal after his first-day heroics in Dubai, Jan 17 We're all slightly surprised by how things turned out. We got caught off guard in that first session on the first day. Andrew Strauss says England's problems are of their own making, Jan 19 Our job is to deal with whatever bowler bowls, and the ICC's job is to police the game. I've got my own private views, and talking about them isn't going to help the situation. Andy Flower becomes the first to hint at unhappiness, Jan 21 The ICC have got their job to do and we fully trust they'll be able to do it. Jonathan Trott suggests the governing body might like to get involved, Jan 21 It's not up to us. It's up to the ICC to take care of the off-the-field stuff. Matt Prior reiterates England's concerns, Jan 22