KP rejoins Surrey in bid to earn England recall

Sacked England batsman Kevin Pietersen has rejoined county club Surrey for the 2015 season in his bid to earn a recall to the national side.

The former batsman has signed a deal to play primarily first-class cricket and would the County Championship opener between Surrey and Glamorgan from April 19. He wants to win back his England place in time for the Ashes series starting on 12 July in Cardiff.

Pietersen said that he would kick himself for a long time if he walked away now without having a go, the BBC reported.

Four-time Ashes winner Pietersen was told he was no longer part of England's plans in February 2014 following the 5-0 whitewash by Australia down under, but incoming England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Colin Graves gave him hopes of a recall when he revealed on March 1 that the sacked batsman would be considered providing he played county cricket.

Pietersen, who is donating his Surrey wages to his charitable foundation, said that even if this does not work out and he does not get back in the England team, he would at least end his career knowing that he gave it another shot.

Pietersen parted company with Surrey in September but remained on good terms with their South African coach Graham Ford and director of cricket Alec Stewart.

Pietersen's new contract is focused on four-day cricket as Surrey bid for promotion from the second division but allows him to appear in Twenty20 and 50-over matches later in the season, the report added.