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Cricket

Pietersen to go with two spinners for Stanford match

29/10/2008

England captain Kevin Pietersen has signalled his intent to play two spinners in Saturday's big-money Stanford Twenty20 for 20 match in Antigua.

The skipper, speaking after his side claimed a one-run victory over Trinidad and Tobago in their final warm-up match last night, hinted that both Samit Patel and Graeme Swann will be in the starting XI.

The news means both men could be in line to receive a massive cash windfall of $1 million (£600,000) each if England can beat a West Indies Select XI (to be known as the Stanford Superstars) in a one-off Twenty20 fixture.

After experiencing the conditions at the Caribbean ground in two practice matches - one against a travelling Middlesex side and another against the Trinidadians - Pietersen appears to be of the belief that spin is the way forward for Saturday's crunch match.

"I think we will have to play a couple of spinners," he said.

"How I use them I am not 100 per cent sure yet.

"I will just try to keep my cards as close to my chest as possible."

The inclusion of Swann and Patel would mean at least one of England's frontline pace bowlers - Ryan Sidebottom, James Anderson, Stuart Broad or Steve Harmison - missing out on a place in the XI.

The difference in prize money between those that play and those that merely make up the rest of the squad is huge - with a $1 million sum set to be shared equally between the four players who miss out and the coaching staff.