Pietersen eyes timely reminder of Test ability
CONTROVERSIAL batsman Kevin Pietersen will continue his bid to force his way back into the England fold when he resumes on 35 not out on day two of Surrey’s division two clash against Leicestershire at the Kia Oval this morning.
The 34-year-old’s international future is set to be a prominent issue for former national team skipper Andrew Strauss to resolve after his appointment as England’s director of cricket on Saturday, the same day as Peter Moores was sacked as head coach.
Even if his potential recall was straight-forward and based on form alone, Pietersen has failed so far to score the volume of runs he would need to figure on the radar of England selectors. He has one half-century to his name in county cricket this season.
A big score would be a timely reminder ahead of Strauss’ first press conference in his new role tomorrow, in a game which could represent Pietersen’s last in red-ball cricket before a temporary return to Indian Premier League side Sunrisers Hyderabad for the knockout stages of the competition.
England hopeful Jonny Bairstow, meanwhile, struck a century as reigning county champions Yorkshire amassed 333-7 on the first day of their clash with Hampshire at Headingley.
Opener Adam Lyth, who is a candidate to join captain Alastair Cook at the top of the order during the two-Test series against New Zealand, which starts at Lord’s on 21 May, made 53.