KEVIN PIETERSEN'S England received an ear-bashing from a war hero before their dash for $20million of Sir Allen Stanford's cash.

KP and Co were lectured by a former SAS man known only as 'Floyd' during a get-together in Henley.

The ex-soldier, who has served in war zones around the world, drummed home the importance of team-building and performing under pressure to Pietersen's men, who also had rowing matches at the famous Leander club on the Thames.

England depart for the cash-drenched slogathon in Antigua on October 23 before the winner-takes-all game against billionaire Stanford and his Superstar XI on November 1.

Pietersen, whose eight won the team rowing contest, said: "Floyd brought it home to us how the mind works in certain situations.

"Playing a game of cricket is a lot less pressurised than fighting for your life or being held up in Iraq but it was good to get hold of some knowledge and see how people function under the pump."

Pressure

Coach Peter Moores added: "There are lots of skilful cricketers but you need sports people who turn it on when it counts.

"There are ways of training to do that and people like the SAS do it. They deliver under pressure and that is key to what England players have to do.

"Because Floyd has come from that background the players got a very clear understanding of what it is like to put your neck on the line for a game of cricket or something more serious. The players are respectful of anybody who has put themselves in those situations.

"You have to be able to handle yourself in a pressure situation. We have all been in situations when you don't deliver at your best."

England are taking 15 players to Antigua for the Stanford festival, which means four will miss out on a massive windfall if KP's men do the business.

Fortunate

They play warm-up games against Trinidad & Tobago and English Twenty20 champs Middlesex before the crunch game against the Stanford Superstars.

The four outsiders will share $1m while the 11 winners will pocket the same amount each. But KP will not have to dish out the bad news to those left out.

He said: "I'm in the fortunate position that I will tell the good news and the coach spills the beans to the lads who miss out.

"We know it's a bonus we have got this fixture. It is nothing to do with the money - it is a good opportunity to play under huge pressure. Next year against Australia the pressure will be just as hard."

TOUR DETAILS

ENGLAND'S players will pick up a whopping £584,000 EACH - at current exchange rates - if they win the Stanford Super Series.

Another £584,000 will be split among the four squad players left out of the winning team, £584,000 will go to the management team and the remaining £4m will be split between the ECB and the West Indies Cricket Board.

SCHEDULE - Oct 25: Stanford Superstars v Trinidad & Tobago; Oct 26: England v Middlesex; Oct 27: Trinidad & Tobago v Middlesex; Oct 28: England v Trinidad & Tobago; Oct 30: Superstars v Middlesex; Nov 1: Superstars v England.