One-day captain Alastair Cook is hoping that the introduction of new faces to the England squad can arrest their alarming slide.

England go into their four-match ODI series against Pakistan on the back of a 3-0 defeat in the Test series and a 5-0 ODI loss in India last October, leaving them with a solitary Twenty20 win to cheer since they left the comforts of home last summer.

"The Tests didn't go to plan, and we didn't play very well," Cook said ahead of Monday's series opener.

"But it's a new format, and the squad has introduced six new faces. It's brought a freshness and enthusiasm to the squad."

Having failed a trial by spin during the Test series, England are unlikely to have any respite in the one-day series.

Their skill levels in Asian conditions were also found wanting on the one-day tour of India, and Cook concedes that there must be major improvement.

"One of the things we said at the time was we tried as hard as we could and we came up quite a long way short again against India," he said.

"There's no shame in that, but there will be a shame if we don't learn individually from that and where we need to take our game. I hope people have done that."

One player who, as usual, will be in focus is Kevin Pietersen, who has been asked to open the bat in the one-day matches.

Although Pietersen had some success in the role during the World Cup last year, his tournament was ended early by a hernia problem.

"It's a new challenge for KP - he did it a little bit in India, for a couple of games at the World Cup before he got injured, and he showed signs of promise," said Cook.

"He's excited about it; I'm excited about it - and when he's in full flow in the powerplay it's going to be hard to stop him.

"KP is unique in his own way and he's certainly got the class - he averages 50 in Test cricket and 40 in ODIs.

"He's a world-class player, and to make the most of those first 10 overs with two new balls you need a world-class player with a world-class technique - and he's got the power."