Familiar foes seek the crucial X-factor in final

Formulaic match-ups often don’t yield results and best-laid plans can go awry when it’s Eng vs Pak

Melbourne: Where will the final be won or lost? England and Pakistan have played each other so frequently in recent times, especially in the lead-up to the World Cup, that they are now quite familiar with each others' tactics.

Yet, can England really ever prepare against a maverick Pakistan side which can pull a rabbit out of a hat at every turn? Can Adil Rashid dismiss Babar early? In turn, can Haris Rauf stop Alex Hales? Which star leggie, Shadab Khan or Adil Rashid, will have a bad day? Both sides have played a total of 10 T20Is since March 2021, with England having a 60% win record. This is one rivalry in which formulaic match-ups often don't yield results and the best-laid plans can go awry.

Plans B, C, and D are important.