Pietersen hasn’t ruled out a Proteas place

Cricket365
April 12, 2016

Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen says he's not ruled out playing for South Africa when he becomes eligible for the Proteas in two years' time, saying he misses the thrill of Test cricket.

Pietersen was born and raised in South Africa, moving to England after school to play county cricket, and from there qualified for England. He retired from that team in early 2014, after being told he was no longer needed.

He's gone on to become one of the more sought-after T20 players, plying his trade in the leagues around the world, and is currently with the Rising Pune Supergiants in the IPL.

Pietersen, when asked about qualifying for SA, said on the Cricket Australia website: "Yes, it is a thought in my head. If it happens, it happens, if it doesn't, it doesn't.

"Obviously, playing international 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.

"I am in a great frame of mind now. I enjoy myself and don't take life too seriously.

"I still train hard and love batting, I love practicing my batting, I love the art of batting. It may not guarantee me getting runs, but it gives me a good chance to get runs.

"I am very lucky that I have played international cricket for 10 years and over 100 Test matches."

A call up for England seems just as unlikely as for the Proteas at this point though. He scored a triple century for Surrey just before the Ashes last year and was not picked, while his T20 form would have seen any other player chosen for the recent World Twenty20, but he was not.