Three key battles: The match-ups that could decide the World Cup Final

We take a look at the key battles that could decide the winner of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022.

Pakistan’s strike bowler has dismissed opposition openers seven times in the first overs of T20 Internationals.

And he has a tendency to deliver those dramatic Powerplay dismissals in the biggest matches against the most dangerous batters.

Most recently it was Shaheen’s vicious inswinger that did for Finn Allen of New Zealand, trapped lbw off just the third ball of the semi-final.

And who can forget last year’s scintillating opening spell against India, where the tall left-armer removed both Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul in one of the greatest new-ball spells in T20 history.

Neither Shaheen nor Buttler played in the recent seven-match series between the two finalists. But with the bowler looking in prime form and Buttler showing intent from the off against the swinging new ball, this has all the hallmarks of a blockbuster clash.

Failing to take wickets in the powerplay against Pakistan typically goes hand-in-hand with defeat. When Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan lay a platform, their team more often than not goes on to win.

Both showed signs of recovering their form in the semi-final, with the Pakistan captain having looked particularly scratchy during the Super 12 stage.

But England will look to attack them with the moving ball first up in Melbourne.

The potential for damp and swinging conditions is high if the weather forecast is anything to go by, and England have some great swing-bowling options in their XI. Expect Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes and Sam Curran all to feature inside the first three or four overs in a search for those prized Pakistan scalps.

Should the ball stop swinging with Babar and Rizwan still at the crease, England will hope to have Mark Wood’s express pace available.

His quick bowling had both batters in trouble during the recent T20I series in Pakistan, and Wood will also have seen Anrich Nortje cause the pair some difficulties during the Super 12 game against South Africa.

Pakistan’s spin-bowling all-rounder has been one of the stars of the tournament and is a deserved nominee for the Player of the Tournament award.

He has tied opponents in knots throughout the middle overs of this World Cup, and will look to do so once again in the final.

In the recent series in Pakistan he was often negated by the sweep-heavy approach of England’s number four and five. But Ben Duckett, who excelled at four in that series, is not at the World Cup, and Harry Brook has not carried his form onto the bouncier pitches of Australia.

Should Shadab get the opportunity to bowl at England’s first-choice three and four of Dawid Malan and Ben Stokes through his four overs, it would be no surprise to see him keep the scoring rate in check.

If the match scenario presents the opportunity then England could well look to counter the threat of Shadab by promoting Moeen Ali up the order.

The English did just that against New Zealand in an attempt to disrupt the Black Caps’ spin duo. It didn’t work on that occasion, with Ali caught on the boundary looking for the big hits that he was sent in to deliver, but his record and scoring rates against spin are the best available to England and among the strongest in world cricket.