Comment: When Pakistan 2.0 meets a 'very un-English' squad, sparks will fly.

MELBOURNE awaits. In a rerun of history, echoing the famous and much loved journey of the Cornered Tigers of 1992, Babar's shers face England in a tilt at a Word Cup trophy. Thirty years have not faded the memories of Pakistan cricket fans of a certain generation, nor have they lessened the hunger for success. A nation expects. A nation prays. A nation dreams.

A nation also debates and analyses, but that phase is all but done. Pakistan are Pakistan, the eleven men who took the field for much of this tournament, four fast bowlers, a cricket team metamorphosing before our eyes, rebooting from the standard version of T20 cricket to T20 2.0.

And England are a new England, who have perfected T20 cricket Version 2.0, adding fresh dimensions to their game. Fast bowlers, leg spinners, and relentless hitters are all part of this very un-English mix.

Above all, England play a brave brand of T20 cricket, one that requires aggression from the first ball to the 120th of any innings.

It is that incessant intent, particularly in batting, that Pakistan are learning. It's also how these two teams are defined. Pakistan are king of the contest confined to below 160. England are supreme when the conditions will tolerate something closer to 180 and above.

That extra stretch is one that Pakistan don't regularly manage, and achieving those higher scores consistently is the next stage of this team's development after this World Cup. That's why there has been such a debate about Pakistan's batting order, but that needs to be put on hold until after the final. Pakistan, to their credit, have begun the process; their semi-final victory over New Zealand brimming with intent and courage.

Now that positivity must be continued into the final. England will not change their approach, it is something they demand of their players. It is a ruthless brand of cricket, destructive and uncompromising, and it destroyed India's hopes in the semi-final.

But that does not mean it will destroy Pakistan too. Babar Azam's team should take encouragement from their group match against India, a game that Pakistan had all but won had it not been for a calamitous last over. And Pakistan hold an advantage over India in their bowling. England will not find run-getting so straightforward against Pakistan's attack.

Pakistan's bowlers have been the best in this tournament without a doubt. A four pronged pace attack that may already rank among the best that this country has produced, and it will...