Pietersen 'wants the week to end'

Pietersen is concerned about his team's health and the Antigua pitch

England captain Kevin Pietersen has admitted he just wants to get through the week in Antigua ahead of Saturday's $20m Stanford Superstars showdown.

Four players missed Tuesday's one-run victory over Trinidad & Tobago with a stomach bug, and Pietersen said the financial incentive no longer mattered.

"Yes, it's a lot of dosh but the longer this week goes on the more I want to get it over with," said Pietersen.

"We have got four guys sick and another couple are not well tonight."

The players who win Saturday's Twenty20 clash between England and the Superstars, led by West Indies batsman Chris Gayle and featuring Shivnarine Chanderpaul, will each collect $1m.

Stuart Broad, Luke Wright, Ryan Sidebottom and James Anderson were all ruled out of Tuesday's game, leaving England with just 11 fit players.

Asked if ill players would take to the field on Saturday to ensure a chance of sharing the prize, Pietersen insisted his team valued their health over the money.

"I am not going to take people on the park who are not fit to play for England," he said. "It is like any other game.

"Andrew Flintoff is on his last legs, so it is just a case of getting the boys right for Saturday now.

"The lads are just not feeling special at the moment, but I am sure there will be not many missing the bus on Saturday."

Pietersen expressed concerns with the Antigua pitch, suggesting the wicket could detract from Saturday's spectacle.

"When spinners play such a big part in a one-day fixture, it's not a special wicket," he said.

"I wish we could have come here and played on a wicket where we could have entertained a lot more.

"If you've got 700 million people watching on Saturday, so I've been told, you want a wicket where spinners don't really play a part. It's very, very disappointing for us."