£10m reasons for England's nerves

Pietersen's team won last night's meeting with Middlesex by 12 runs and will play a second warm-up match here tomorrow against Trinidad before tackling the Stanford Superstars on Saturday in a game worth more than £600,000 a man to the victors.

But they have already seen - or, rather, struggled to see - just how difficult it can be to take high catches on a ground where the floodlights are lower than usual so as not to create a hazard for the airport next door.

Pietersen dropped a skyer in the deep after Middlesex had put down several chances during England's innings - and the captain ordered extra catching practice after the end of a contest which also confirmed that 150 is likely to be an outstanding Twenty20 total on Sir Allen Stanford's low, slow pitches.

"It's a huge factor and there could be someone under a £10million catch on Saturday," said Pietersen.

"You can't change the pitch and you can't change the lights. But it's the same for both teams. We got the boys catching during the break between innings last night and after the game and we will do the same on Tuesday."

Middlesex captain Shaun Udal, whose team play Trinidad tonight in a match worth £200,000, is also hoping that extra practice under the floodlights will make perfect.

"As soon as the ball goes above the lights it just fades into oblivion," said Udal. "You're almost looking at the stars and then something comes down at you and you have to try to make a move for it."

Mind you, the dolly catch which Andrew Strauss spilled when Andrew Flintoff sent a leading edge chance looping towards mid-on off Udal's bowling could have been taken with both eyes closed.

"That's one for Auntie's Bloomers," admitted Udal. "I'm glad he did it in this game rather than the next one."

With just five fours and two sixes in their innings, England had to settle for a total of 121 for four last night. That would not win too many Twenty20 games around the world but it proved sufficient to see off Middlesex, who managed 109 for four in reply. Twenty-four hours earlier, the Stanford Superstars had made 146 on an adjacent pitch with Trinidad scraping together 124 in reply. This week may be about loads of money, but not loads of runs.

The biggest winner so far this weeks looks to be Graeme Swann. England left out their off-spinner last night but, with the pitch offering enough turn for part-timer Kevin Pietersen to bowl a full spell, he could well come into the equation tomorrow and on Saturday when it really matters.

If Swann plays, and Steve Harmison returns following an upset stomach, then Jimmy Anderson is the likeliest paceman to miss out along with Ryan Sidebottom, who picked up a calf strain last night.

Middlesex, meanwhile, have appointed Angus Fraser as their director of cricket.