Botham tells England's players to stop moaning

The build-up to tomorrow's winner-takes-all-clash between England and the Stanford Superstars in Antigua has been dominated by negative headlines surrounding the pitch, floodlights and the inappropriate behaviour of Texan billionaire Sir Allen Stanford with the players' wives.

Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff have both said they just want the week to end but England legend Sir Ian Botham has told them to lighten up.

He said: "There's a great deal of money at stake for the winners. It's a real bonus for the players and one they should just go out there and enjoy. It's the same for both teams. Just stop whingeing and get on with it.

"There would be a lot of players who wish they could be playing in the game with the chance to win that kind of money. That's what the players have got to remember."

Asked what he would have done if his wife Cathy had been pictured on the big screen sitting on Sir Allen Stanford's lap while he was batting, Botham told talkSPORT: "It takes two to tango. It didn't look like they weren't enjoying themselves. At the end of the day it's a party so let's get on with it. Grow up and move on."

Pietersen has been alarmed at how the players are being viewed back home and is worried about how his team will remain focused in such a high pressure environment which some critics say has turned into a circus.

But he said: "We've been given the privilege of coming here to win some cash and, number one, to play for England. Other people dive into the depths of why we are here and all that stuff."

So England will be back next year? Pietersen said: "If you do something for first time there are always problems. I think everyone is going to review the week and hopefully iron out some of the little things that weren't right.

"And win or lose tomorrow the sun will still rise in the morning."

Players' union representative Sean Morris took the concerns of Pietersen's team directly to England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive David Collier.

"They are pretty uncomfortable," said Morris. "There is a sense that the game has been devalued in terms of a contest. It all gives you a feeling that you are turning up for a garden party."

But Middlesex skipper Shaun Udal, whose own team suffered a 58-run hammering last night at the hands of Stanford's West Indian side, believes England have to forget about the money on offer. He said: "They've just to go out and play their best cricket. It's not the players fault they are in this position. There's probably no one who wouldn't like that opportunity. I hope people at home hope they win."

But the money will invariably play a part and when asked if thoughts of the cash on offer would flash through a fielder's mind if it all comes down to holding a winning catch, Pietersen was honest. "I'm sure there will be, because we're human beings," he said.

Team: Ian Bell, Matt Prior (wkt), Owais Shah, Kevin Pietersen (capt), Andrew Flintoff, Paul Collingwood, Samit Patel, Luke Wright, Graeme Swann, Stuart Broad, Steve Harmison.