Pietersen may increase England's World Cup options by opening in ODIs

England batsman Kevin Pietersen is reportedly expected to increase his side's options for the 2015 World Cup by opening the batting for the first time in a home one-day international in the five-match NatWest series against Australia.

According to The Guardian, before Tuesday's match against Ireland, Ian Bell had partnered captain Alastair Cook with considerable success in each of the 27 ODIs since Pietersen stunned England by announcing his retirement from the format in May 2012.

However, the report said that as both Bell and Cook have been rested from the ODI series ahead of the return Ashes series, Pietersen is expected to revert to the role he last filled against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates before May 2012, and offer an alternative to England's planning for the 2015 World Cup.

The report mentioned that Pietersen returned to the ODI team batting at No3 behind Bell and Cook earlier this year in India, when Jonathan Trott was resting, adding that Trott and Joe Root would offer further options at the top of the order.

Stating that there is a possibility that Pietersen may open in the first ODI, acting captain Eoin Morgan said that Pietersen has opened the batting for England before and done well, adding that he is an explosive player and very versatile for which they will be looking at both the options of him either opening or playing in the middle.

According to Morgan, the opening positions may prove the trickiest to fill in this mix-and-match England squad as both Cook and Bell have been a big part of their success as an ODI team, for which a senior player like Pietersen has been considered.