England captain Kevin Pietersen has bemoaned the lack of typical Twenty20 excitement at the Stanford Super Series as his side prepares for the US$20million showdown.
People expecting the customary fast-paced action of 20-over cricket for Saturday's contest against the Stanford Superstars may be disappointed given the matches at Coolidge to date.
While fours and sixes usually abound in Twenty20, that has not been the case so far and England might have to adjust its expectations in the final warm-up against Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday night.
England defeated Middlesex by a relatively comfortable 12 runs on Sunday evening despite posting just 121-4 due to a combination of a two-paced surface and a long outfield.
"With the spectacle that it's going to be you would expect to come here and have scores of 160 to 200," Pietersen said.
"But at the end of the day it is the same for both teams and it is who handles the conditions on the day.
"It's a little bit of a shame really but that is what we have got and we have to make the best of it."
Stuart Broad's ability to extract sharp bounce from banging the ball into the surface reaped figures of 1-13 from four overs and prevented English champion Middlesex developing any momentum.
"As a bowler I was coming over here expecting it to be a run-fest - that is what Twenty20 cricket people like to see - but the wicket is quite conducive to hitting-the-deck style bowling and it also seems to turn," Broad said.
"We did well last night not to aim for 160-170, it was probably a 130-wicket and to win the game we got enough.
"We will obviously be looking to improve and get a bigger score in the next game but we proved that we can defend a low target if that is what is set.
"To defend 121 on any ground in a 20-over match is a good effort, so we can be pleased with the start.
"I certainly prefer the low-scoring ones because it means you are not going around the park.
"Everyone likes to see fours and sixes but these low-scoring games can have their own intrigue and it tests the skill and nerve of the batsmen to be able to knock it around at five and six runs per over rather than closing their eyes and swinging."
England's opening outing highlighted the effectiveness of the slow bowlers - particularly Middlesex duo Shaun Udal and Murali Kartik - which is likely to trigger a re-think in strategy.
It was widely anticipated England would field the settled XI which defeated South Africa 4-0 in the recent NatWest Series.
However, Pietersen suggests upsetting the balance and harmony of that side is an option if conditions dictate, which means Graeme Swann could get the chance to stake his claim against Trinidad.
"We have come here as a squad and the squad benefits if we win," said Pietersen. "If we lose no-one benefits in terms of what the rewards are.
"We are here as a team to play for the team, to play for the badge with pride and passion, and whoever misses out, misses out.
"We have to pick the best team to win a game for England and that's just the way it is."
Steve Harmison is set to return in place of Ryan Sidebottom after missing the Middlesex match with a stomach