Kevin Pietersen refuses to rule out international return with South Africa

The batsman has not represented England since the 2013/14 Ashes whitewash in Australia

Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen (Getty)

Kevin Pietersen has refused to rule out returning to international cricket with his native South Africa.

The former England batsman, who moved from South Africa in 2001, was sacked following the 2013/14 Ashes whitewash in Australia, after which it was suggested he did not offer his ‘full support’ to captain Alastair Cook.

Pietersen scored 8,181 runs in 104 Test appearances for England and still harbours ambitions of playing on the international stage again.

Currently a Twenty20 mercenary, he would be eligible to represent the Proteas in 2018 and now admits that he has considered making a switch of allegiance.

“Yes, it is a thought in my head,” he told Cricket Australia. “If it happens, it happens, if it doesn’t, it doesn’t.

“Obviously, playing international [cricket] is something I have done for a very long time. Do I miss playing international cricket? Do I miss batting in international cricket? Yes I do, very much, so you never know.”

“The eligibility for South Africa is still [over] a year away. So we will have to wait and see but it [an English call-up] is definitely still an option,” he said.

Pietersen gave up an Indian Premier League contract last year and instead joined Surrey, where he staked his claim for an England recall with a triple first-class century against Leicestershire, only to be overlooked by the England Cricket Board’s team of selectors.

In February, South Africa T20 captain Faf du Plessis gave the idea of Pietersen representing his native country short shrift.

“KP has played a great career for England, but certainly, from a South African perspective, he is English,” Du Plessis said.