England's stars in £50million bonanza
Eleven England cricketers can pocket £500,000 by winning a single match this November. But they will fly home from Antigua with nothing if they lose the sport's richest ever contest.
Sir Allen Stanford, the Texan billionaire who thinks Test cricket is "boring", flew into Lord's today and confirmed details of the game against the 'Stanford Super Stars' West Indian team - a Twenty20 revolution that will change the game in this country.
The first of five winnertakesall matches worth in total £50 million will take place on 1 November at Sir Allen's ground in Antigua with four more to follow in an annual basis.
"The loser goes home unhappy, the winner goes home very unhappy," said the American businessman. England's leading players, like Kevin Pietersen, missed out on the cash-rich Indian Premier League.
However, ECB chairman Giles Clarke said: "They can now make money beyond the dreams of some of their predecessors."
BRENDON McCULLUM warmed up for the one-dayers against England by smashing 123 off 98 balls at Worcester today.
The New Zealanders totalled 358 for eight, with McCullum hitting 12 fours and three sixes.
England play the Kiwis in a Twenty20 at Old Trafford on Friday and in the first of five 50-over games on Sunday.
