England ignore Allen Stanford circus and focus on business at hand

Sure, the money and prize riding on the match has divided and ruled this entire exercise. But the actual nuts and bolts, normality and familiarity of an England cricket match on tour has been lost.

That's what happens when you toss $20 million in the room, shut the door and say it is all about the last man standing. But, as England captain Kevin Pietersen said yesterday, "the sun will still come up in the morning".

No more mutterings about wanting the week to end and grumbles about the behaviour of Texan billionaire Sir Allen Stanford surrounded by people ever eager to tell the boss what he wants to hear.

Time to refocus. "Obviously there is a difference because everyone is talking about money, money, money, but at the end of the day it is a game for England," Pietersen said. "We have to keep things simple because as soon as you start making mountains out of mole hills you start losing the fact of why you are here and why you play the game. For us it is just a game we want to win."

The margins of victory and defeat for England and the Stanford Superstars is almost as wide as the cultural divide that has led to so many mis-understandings and botched thinking this week.

For the Stanford Super Series to have a realistic life span of five years it needs the two teams to provide a match tonight brimming with the entertainment and drama such a prize demands.

The man standing under the $20 million catch, the player hitting the $20 million six, the bowler bowling the $20 million wide. Stanford wants Ian Botham's scriptwriter.

"I have said from the start this is an opportunity for someone to make a name for themselves – good or bad," Pietersen said. "Stanford told me that 700 million people worldwide will be watching. That is pressure but I don't see it as a problem, I see that as an amazing thing. If you do well you are going to be a star."

And maybe a chump. Next month's tour to India will be a long and tiring trip. Perfect for self-recrimination and isolating the man who dropped a million bucks. "We have been given the privilege of coming here and having the opportunity to win some cash and play for England," Pietersen said. "We have been put in this position and there is nothing we can do about it." Recriminations? "Absolutely zero."

The same cannot be said for all concerned this week. There have been so many errors of judgment, so many poor decisions and far too much grumbling and whining from the visitors to this island.

Perhaps this has been a cathartic experience for Stanford. Perhaps it is only acres of negative newsprint that is able to persuade a wealthy, powerful man on a small island that he has to change his ways. Perhaps his organisers have accepted they have made mistakes.

"The black helicopter at Lord's started it all," one source said. Stanford is an omnipotent presence already. He is everywhere. The fooling around with the wagss, the kissing of small children as if he is a senator on the hustings, and the personal cameraman and television director. All unnecessary. "Things will be different next time," the source added.

Giles Clarke, the chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, arrived on Friday and perhaps this is his chance for a new start. Time to accept a dash of humility, learn from the mistakes and begin to exploit Stanford's involvement in English cricket as a cause for good. With an election to fight in March, it is maybe too late.

The ECB's presence, away from the team's support staff, has largely been restricted to one media officer and their decision to announce a review of the whole Super Series only three days into the week simply fanned the speculation. ECB chief executive David Collier may have worked behind the scenes and dined on Stanford's boat but his public appearances have given succour to the critics.

Laughing uproariously with English cricket's new benefactor and touching fists as if out in the middle celebrating a four or six could be blamed on a moment's misjudgement. What carries more concern is the ECB's handling of Twenty20 cricket.

From their fraught dealings with the Indian Premier League, isolation on the Champions League and mistakes which have blighted the Stanford week. It cannot carry on.

Pietersen said the Caribbean was the perfect place to host this event. Over here, they seem bemused at the nature of British cynicism. Why can't we just join in the party?

There is no doubt the crowds have enjoyed the experience. Forget the lights and the poor pitch. The punters go home happy. Stanford provides entertainment. Now it is down to the players.

The Stanford Superstars are a good team, England have been distracted and played poorly in their warm-up matches. "I won't be using the word s***," said Pietersen when asked how he will react if he drops the crucial catch. This is not a time for understatement.