Kevin Pietersen has revealed that he will be seeking talks with the England and Wales Cricket Board after incoming chairman Colin Graves paved the way for a potential return to the national team.
The 34-year-old was sacked by the Three Lions following their disastrous Ashes tour of Australia, and managing director Paul Downton and national selector James Whittaker claimed that there was no way back for the batsman.
However, Graves revealed that Pietersen could make a shock return to the team if he applies himself in the county game rather than in overseas competitions, which the 34-year-old has admitted he is keen to discuss.
"I was pleasantly surprised this morning, actually. The previous chat was clearly that I had been banned from playing for England and that I'd never play again, which for me was incredibly sad because I do feel that my England career was cut short and taken away from me," Pietersen told Sky Sports News.
"It's come as a pleasant surprise but one that I'll need to think through. It's only happened in the last three or four hours, I'm not going to hassle anybody on a Sunday, I'm certainly not going to hassle Colin on a Sunday. But I'll definitely want to speak to the ECB. Let's just be clear: I'd love to play for England again.
"If it is genuine, which I'm sure it is. Goodness, I would love to be given that opportunity again. I will need to go away and make some decisions, I need to speak to a few people. I'll have to go away now and see where my future lies but this is really, really encouraging."
Pietersen played in 104 Test matches and 137 one-day internationals for England in a 10-year career before his exile.
Simon Sinclair
