Friday 21 July 2017 23:35, UK
Kevin Pietersen has again refused to rule out representing South Africa when he requalifies for the country of his birth in 2019.
The former England star, a fixture on the worldwide T20 circuit since his last Test appearance at the start of 2014, will be eligible for the Proteas in two years' time.
After hitting four sixes in one over on his return for Surrey in the T20 Blast on Wednesday, Pietersen would not entirely dismiss the prospect of a sensational return to the international arena - an idea he first raised last year.
He told Sky Sports News: "I've come out here and whacked a few balls, I've hurt my calf, I'm getting old - who knows where I'll be in two years' time?
"You never know. I'll be playing a lot of cricket in South Africa over the next two seasons. If I enjoy batting we'll see where I get to.
"I might pull my boots off and say 'you know what? If I get another niggle I don't need it in my life. I'm in a very happy place'.
"It would stir up a few feathers if I decided to go and play for South Africa, but who's to say they'd even pick me? I've got to still prove myself with the bat."
Pietersen also said England should pick Jason Roy and Dawid Malan for next week's third Test at the expense of Keaton Jennings and the injured Gary Ballance.
"They picked a poor Test-match team," he said. "I know they won [the first Test] at Lord's but that was the brilliance of Joe Root.
"There's individuals that are brilliant, but the collective don't fire as much as they should and there are some holes in that batting order.
"You cannot have a top three that bat as the top three bat or has poor technique, you cannot have that.
"You've got to change that up, get them striking, get bowlers thinking 'Goodness, if I don't bowl this ball in the right place, I'm going to get whacked'. Malan and Roy are my choice."
