Cricket: Million reasons to play for dad Harmison; STANFORD SERIES: Paceman looking to secure kids' future.

Byline: Richard Gibson in Antigua

STEVE Harmison views Saturday's showdown with the Stanford Superstars as the opportunity to make his family financially secure.

Durham fast bowler Harmison was a reluctant candidate for a match that promises winning players a EUR1million payout but England's hierarchy persuaded him out of one-day retirement.

Now, having agreed to return earlier than scheduled, he is in with a chance of securing the loot.

"At the end of the day I have got four children and it's a chance to make some money," said Harmison.

"I am not somebody that wears big watches and drives big, flash Ferraris.

That's just not me.

"If you do well and win the game you are entitled to spend it on what you want and I would like to think I would make their future so that they could do whatever they see fit."

With the clash for cash only two days away, thoughts of dollar bills might still be infiltrating thoughts at England net practice. But Harmison insisted: "nobody has really discussed the money because we haven't got it. The money is not in our hands.

"Of course, it is an incentive, it's a life-changing sum.

"We are here for the money because the simple fact of the matter is we are playing for EUR20million.

"We are not here for the ashes, we are not here for the World Cup, the prize on saturday is nothing if you lose but if you win, EUR1million."

Cricket has changed forever this week due to English cricket's relationship with sir allen stanford, who is bankrolling a five-year series of matches worth EUR100million.

However, the England and Wales Cricket Board are to review the series following a week of negative publicity.

American stanford found it necessary to apologise for his behaviour during England's opening victory over Middlesex on sunday after he was pictured in the stands with Emily Prior, wife of Matt Prior, on his lap and his arms around other wives and girlfriends.

The 58-year-old has access to all areas at his Coolidge ground and England's players have also felt uneasy about him strolling into the dressing rooms on match days.

Further criticism has been levelled at the poor floodlights and pitches.

ECB policy is to review all tours and events but there is arguably more urgency in this case because of the event's image.

As things stand, stanford is lined up to be an increasing influence in English cricket.

He was invited to field a team in the English Premier league in June and will fund an annual 20-over quadrangular tournament at lord's from next summer.

When the ECB agreed their multimillion-pound tie-ups with stanford, they saw it as a benefit to various areas of domestic and international cricket.

The EUR3.5million given to the West Indies board each year is a sum significant enough to strengthen them at elite and grass-roots level.

From an English perspective, top players will now move onto a whole new pay-scale if successful and the money will filter down to counties to improve drainage and floodlights.

CAPTION(S):

LUCRATIVE OPPORTUNITY... Steve Harmison is in line to play in Saturday's big-money 20-over match.