Kevin Pietersen has been in sparkling form on and off the pitch during the Australian Big Bash Twenty20 cricket tournament, but his chances of ever representing England in Test matches appear as distant as ever after Surrey ruled out re-signing him this summer.
The controversial batsman has claimed that new England one-day skipper Eion Morgan would "love" to have him back in the England set up, and has expressed a desire to resume his England career in all formats of the game even though he was thrown out of the camp a year ago following England's disastrous tour of Australia.
But according to The Guardian he has suffered a "major blow" after Surrey deemed him surplus to requirements, and the decision means he is unlikely to be seen on then county circuit this year.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Latest Videos FromThe Week
"Surrey's recent recruitment of the Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara for next summer indicated there would be no way back for Pietersen," says the paper. "And his high market value combined with the recent reduction in the salary cap for counties from £2.19m to £1.97m has killed off any prospect of a return."
The news "raises the very real prospect that he will have no future involvement in English cricket", adds the paper. "Without a county deal, it is unlikely Pietersen would play any red ball cricket, making a Test return all but impossible."
Pietersen did his chances of impressing another county little good by describing some players on the county circuit as "muppets". He told journeyman players: "Either you become better or you go and do something else".
The Guardian suggests that Pietersen is now likely to spend this year as a "T20 gun for hire". He must find a new franchise to play for in the IPL but after that could move to the Caribbean Premier League tournament.
He has certainly proved his aptitude for T20 during his stint with the Melbourne Stars, which has been an "unbridled triumph", according to the Guardian. "Improved form, including three half-centuries, and a well-executed charm offensive has seen Pietersen win over team-mates and a previously sceptical Australian public."
