Selector Luke Wright said "runs are the currency" as England consider the makeup of their top order ahead of a busy summer that include high-profile Test series against India and Australia.

England finished the second day of the first Test in Multan on a solid 96-1 on Tuesday in reply to Pakistan's mammoth 556 that was boosted by a fiery century from Agha Salman.

Opener Zak Crawley said on Friday that England's young pace attack will face a "test of character" in their upcoming Test series in Pakistan where a pitch baked by searing temperatures and surging smog levels await.

England next return to test action in July against the West Indies, after this year's Twenty20 World Cup.

India claimed five wickets in the morning session of day four to reduce England to 194-6 and stay on course for a series-levelling victory in the second Test on Monday.

England were still 241 behind India at the break with Jonny Bairstow, on 24, and skipper Ben Stokes, on five, batting in Visakhapatnam.

From the first ball, with Zak Crawley striking a boundary off Pat Cummins, till the last ball on July 31 when Stuart Broad took the wicket of Alex Carey, the cricket world experienced 45 days of edge-of-the-seat cinematic action that could not have been scripted by mortals.

England's unwavering commitment to playing attacking cricket without fear under captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendan McCullum was once again vindicated on Thursday when the hosts took control of the fourth Ashes test against Australia.

England were 384-4 at stumps in reply to Australia's first innings 317, a lead of 67 runs in a match they must win to maintain their hopes of regaining the Ashes at 2-1 down with two to play