KP slams ton as comeback intensifies

Exiled batsman Kevin Pietersen slammed 170 for county side Surrey in his comeback to red-ball cricket, then said he wants his on-field performances to help him gain a place back in the England team.
Pietersen scored his runs on the first day of a three-day warm-up match against Oxford University in preparation for the County Championship season.
The South-Africa born player wants to make a return to international cricket after being axed after the 2013/2014 Ashes tour to Australia for allegedly being a divisive influence in the dressing-room.
The 34 year-old Pietersen then released a book which criticised his former teammates and the England management, and it looked as if his international career had come to an end.
However, former ECB managing director, Paul Downton, the man who sacked Pietersen, was fired from his job after England endured a poor World Cup and new ECB chairman Colin Graves has said he wants the best players to play for the national side, giving Pietersen hope.
Pietersen, England's highest run-scorer in international cricket, said: "He (Graves) said he wants his best players playing for England. And it's a clean slate. I haven't met the ECB yet, and no doubt that meeting will come pretty soon.
"I'm not sure I need to sit around a table and speak to people – right now I need to hit the red ball and my runs will do enough talking.
"It was really important to get my head down, but it's the way I wanted to go out and play. It doesn't matter what sort of bowling attack I was facing, I was in for it today.
"There was obviously a lot of pressure today, purely on the fact that there's a bit of a circus around this game and it's my first game in whites for a while, but this is a nice start."
Latest
-
News
Chris Silverwood admits Jofra Archer elbow problem may need long term management
The England fast bowler was unavailable for the second and fourth Tests of the series against India due to pain in his right elbow.
-
News
How England’s players rated in their Test series against India
See how the England players rated during the series defeat.
-
News
England storm to T20 series whitewash over New Zealand
Wicketkeeper Amy Jones completed three stumpings and Katherine Brunt took two for 19 in England’s 32-run victory.
-
News
Joe Root promises England will learn lessons from India rout
An innings defeat in Ahmedabad rounded off a 3-1 series loss.
-
News
India v England, day 3: Tourists left in a spin once again as series slips away
Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel continued their outright domination of England and helped seal a 3-1 series win.
-
News
England left to lick their wounds as India condemn them to another defeat
Joe Root’s men had no answers.
-
News
More woe for England as India’s spin twins push hosts towards series victory
Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel claimed three wickets each as the tourists slumped to 91 for six at tea.
-
News
England’s top order crumble once again as India take a firm grip on fourth Test
The tourists were reduced to 30 for four having conceded a first-innings lead of 160.
-
News
India extends lead to 160 on third morning in Ahmedabad
While Washington Sundar was stranded on 96 not out, the hosts increased the pressure on England in the fourth Test.
-
News
England accused of throwing Dom Bess ‘under the bus’
The spinner struggled on his return to the side.