Botham: England should forget controversy and concentrate on winning big Stanford showdown

By Sportsmail Reporter
Updated: 08:09 EST, 31 October 2008

Sir Ian Botham believes England's cricketers need to focus on their commitment to the controversial Stanford series, and urged them to 'enjoy' Saturday's big occasion.

England are taking on the Stanford Superstars in Antigua in a match worth $20 million.

And Botham said: 'There's a great deal of money at stake for the winners.

Sir Ian Botham says Monday's embarrassing incident involving Sir Allen Stanford should be forgotten

'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 whinging 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.

'It's the icing on the cake and that's what the players have got to remember.

'It's an intensive week of cricket. But the big finale comes up at the weekend and let's be fair, what an opportunity for some of these guys.'

Sir Allen Stanford walks around the crowd during the match between the Super Stars and Middlesex on Thursday

Botham also questioned whether Stanford had done anything wrong when he was pictured with the England players' partners.

He 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.'