Kevin Pietersen may 'consider his future' after the Ashes suggests Andrew Flintoff

The England batsman is currently struggling with injury

Kevin Pietersen needs at least two first-class games before the Ashes (Getty Images)

Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff believes Kevin Pietersen may consider his England future early next year.

Pietersen has only been back in the fold for two series following last summer's dramatic exile from the international set-up and is due to miss the forthcoming home Tests against New Zealand due to a knee injury.

Pietersen was left out of the final Test against South Africa last year having sent "provocative" messages to friends in the Proteas side and given a confrontational press conference at Headingley.

He was initially left out of the touring party for India but returned to the fold after a much-discussed period of "reintegration" and enjoyed a superb run of form with the bat.

But Flintoff, who called time on his own England career in 2009, believes the star batsman could be tempted to depart the scene again after back-to-back Ashes series at home and abroad.

"I wouldn't read too much into his not playing New Zealand, Kevin will be ready (for the Ashes)," he told Sky Sports News.

"There are 10 Tests against Australia in the next few months, I expect England to win and expect Kevin to be part of that.

"But I would be quite interested to see if Kevin tries to play Test cricket after that. We'll see what happens after that, if he is lured away to play IPL and Twenty20 cricket around the world.

"I've got a sneaking suspicion he'll be looking at those 10 Tests and then consider his future."

PA