Former England star Mark Butcher feels Andrew Strauss's men were not prepared for the challenge of facing high-class spin in the UAE.
England went into the current Test series with Pakistan as favourites due to their superb displays over the past two years, which have seen them rise to the top of the five-day rankings.
But they have never mastered the art of playing spin in sub-continental conditions and it has returned to haunt them once again as they have already lost the three-match series 2-0.
They got themselves into a winning position in Abu Dhabi last time out but were dismissed for just 72 in their second innings to hand the Asians victory by 72 runs.
The England top seven batsmen have all scored heavily over the past 18 months but most of the runs have come in familiar conditions, either at home or in Australia, where the bouncy pitches suit them down to the ground.
But they have been unable to adapt to conditions in the Middle East and Butcher believes they did not know exactly how tough it was going to be to deal with the twin threat of Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman.
"I'm not sure they were quite prepared for what was to come in these conditions, or if they understood how different the game can be in places like India and Sri Lanka. And Dubai is proving to be the same," he told the Mirror.
"They are a very good team with some very good batsmen, but what they did last winter in Australia and each summer at home was not going to work and we can see what has happened."
Butcher admits it will be hard for England to win the final Test but feels that the batsmen should go into the match with a plan and have the courage to stick to it whatever the consequences.
"There has to be a no-blame agenda," he added. "If your method is to sweep then you have to practise that as much as possible before the next game and use it.
"If you get out trying to sweep then no one should have a go at you for it. But if you try to do something you're not used to and get out then that is where people get upset."