NICK HOWSON looks at the major talking points as the 50-over world champions and the Black Caps concluded their tournament preparations
A precaution or a concern? The New Zealand captain did not bat in the Kiwis' second warm-up match, with his responsibilities restricted to calling the coin in the air and shepherding his side in the field.
Williamson has been nursing elbow and hamstring problems. While the leg muscle issue has been described as minor, the skipper has been constantly dogged by the elbow throughout 2021.
He is currently going through "load management" which is a slight concern with six days to go until the opening game against Pakistan and just a handful of days between group matches.
It might be that New Zealand try and get Williamson through the start of the competition against Pakistan and India, and rest him for the matches with the qualifiers and Afghanistan.
Either way, an uncomfortable compromise faces Gary Stead.
Kane Williamson did not bat in the second warm-up matches
It's ok to be pretty dubious about the value of these warm-up matches in the grand scheme of things. While they don't have full status, they're too close to the main event for comfort. The ICC Men's T20 World Cup Fringe, if you like.
Fixtures are set up to ensure upcoming group matches are not repeated, but we've very likely seen a dress rehearsal of a semi-final or final which devalues it. It isn't like most of these players have been sitting on their backsides for the last few weeks.
Therefore, every conclusion requires an asterisk. Twenty-five players were named for this encounter; it almost needed a 'reconstruction' graphic akin to a scene from Crimewatch.
Because we're constantly in demand to form cutting, hot takes from every development it's hard to turn the tap off. These warm-up matches are intriguing but we have to be careful with our sweeping judgments.
But some trends are difficult to ignore, and England's trials against New Zealand's spinners was a tough watch.
Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi, who are expected to start the tournament as the senior pace-off bowlers, combined for figures of 8-0-55-3. Daryl Mitchell, Todd Astle and Glenn Phillips, an option for Williamson as well, all took an over each in order to protect the quicks.
The pitch was tacky and skiddy rather than providing violent turn, and nevertheless only Patel will look to spin the ball hard. It provided England's batters with plenty of questions which they were largely unable to answer.
Two unedifying reverse sweeps saw the end of Dawid Malan and Eoin Morgan, before Jos Buttler's demise. Six boundaries came from eight overs at a run-rate less than seven.
Santner didn't provide a ton of wicket-taking threat but he was neat and tidy. There are worse fifth/sixth bowling options out there than him.
Morgan appeared to get a bottom edge before being given out but the decision does not distract from the issues the 50-over world champions had in getting the ball away and finding ways to keep the runs ticking over without taking undue risks.
There was also some lazy batting, Liam Livingstone being the worst offender as he showed too much of his stumps to Phillips and saw his leg-stump perish.
How England fare on slow surfaces in the UAE is probably the key question that stands between them and another world title. On this basis, they could be in for a long tournament with sterner attacks than this to come.
Ajaz Patel's three wickets will give England food for thought
Full teams, official kits, ICC-approved umpires and all the broadcast graphics we've come to associate with the early stage of the competition: this certainly looked like a World Cup fixture.
The match was played at The Tolerance Oval in Abu Dhabi, which sits in the shadow of the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
It was hoped that the Tolerance would have gained accreditation to be used during the back-end of the IPL and during the World Cup but the authorities were left disappointed.
Balls disappeared and took ages to re-locate and there was tones of scaffolding around. Club players watching around the world would have had a little chuckle.
It was used for matches during the qualifying event in 2019 but has not attained approval for either of the events in the UAE. It is hoped it will become the fourth venue on the roster and eventually host internationals at night.
Perhaps it is a futile criticism, but if a venue is not deemed ready to host tournament matches, why is it suitable for warm-ups that are materially the same?
Eoin Morgan's troubles with the bat continued
I wrote in the England tournament preview that Adil Rashid is the most irreplaceable player in this squad.
That position has been strengthened by the elbow injury which keeps Jofra Archer at home and the tournament being moved to the sub-continent from Australia.
No other bowler can provide Eoin Morgan will control and wicket-taking ability in equal measure during the middle overs like Rashid. His variations are near-impossible to pick and he is a menace against the new batter.
Rashid's changes in pace are one of the newer additions to his artillery and that did for Saunter on this occasion, who allowed one ball to burst through him.
The question for Morgan is how effective will the Yorkshire spinner can be when England play in the evening when four of their five group matches are scheduled.
Some chases in the IPL were compromised by dew and Rashid and others will have to cope with a slippery ball if they lose the toss. It was certainly an issue in the first warm-up game as India sauntered home with an over to spare.
Men's T20 World Cup 2021 team guide: England
Men's T20 World Cup 2021 team guide: New Zealand
Men's T20 World Cup 2021: All you need to know
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