Kevin Pietersen Wants England Berth Back, But His Ability is Not the Only Issue

Kevin Pietersen is hoping that his undefeated 326 for Surrey in a County match against Leicestershire will resurrect his England career. The odds, reportedly, are against him. Runs always don't win recognition.

Initial reports indicate Pietersen's former captain and newly-appointed director of England cricket Andrew Strauss has shot down KP's return to the national squad. But when someone scores a triple century under pressure, it is hard to believe that form will go unrecognized.

"What more can I do? All I can do is score runs. I'm incredibly proud of how I played under pressure.

"People were saying on social media that this would be a career-defining innings for me and they were asking me if I was ready for it. I knew there was a lot of pressure on me and I was feeling it," said Pietersen.

Pietersen's ability as a cricketer has never been in question but the 34-year-old superstar's larger-than-the-team attitude has been counterproductive. Captains and senior players have not been KP's best friends.

Strauss will address his first official press conference later on Tuesday and Pietersen's international future should dominate the proceedings. Pietersen met Strauss on Monday in what has been described as a "private" affair.

Dealing with superstars is not always about runs. No matter how "desperate" KP is to win his England berth, the establishment may not be willing to bring a "bad" apple back at a time when the team is struggling to find its feet.

Cricket analyst Simon Hughes writes: "It's too late, there's too much baggage. Pietersen was lucky to get another chance after the text messages to South African players behind Andrew Strauss's back. It's like being unfaithful to your wife - you might get away with it once but not twice. His book was his own infidelity, times 50. That compounded what he had already done."

One big knock in a County game may just not be enough to convince the national selectors. His Test stats are not greatly encouraging -- in the last 10 Tests he played he averaged 34. His current Test average of 47 is the lowest it has been since 2006 so it's gradually been in decline.

"He's had injuries and I do think he was disengaged in the last Ashes too. He once had the 'X Factor', now he's got the 'I Factor'," said Hughes.

Pietersen last played for England in the final Test of a 5-0 Ashes series defeat in Australia in January 2014. He was sacked a month later and in October released an autobiography slamming several players, saying there was a "bullying culture" in the squad.

After the 2015 World Cup rout where Eoin Morgan-led England lost four of their six matches, England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Colin Graves said Pietersen could be recalled if he "impressed in the County game." Effectively, Pietersen cut short his lucrative Indian Premier League contract and joined Surrey.

Monday's 373-ball innings impressed former England captains Michael Vaughan, Alec Stewart and Andrew Flintoff. Vaughan tweeted: "Just pick your best available players and let's stop complicating sport...it's a game of cricket...nothing more nothing less."

Flintoff has backed Pietersen too. If indeed Strauss has shut the door on KP, he will have some explaining to do.