Kevin Pietersen insists he will be ready to play in England's opening Test of the summer after undergoing hernia surgery.
Batsman intends to be back playing for Surrey in the middle of May
Kevin Pietersen is confident he will be fit for the start of England's home series against Sri Lanka as he recovers from hernia surgery.
The batsman flew home early from the World Cup to have an operation on the injury having originally been set to go under the knife once England were knocked out of the tournament.
The lay-off allowed the 30-year-old the chance to enjoy an "amazing" break from international cricket, though he is now working hard to get fit again.
Pietersen plans to start playing for new county Surrey in the middle of May as he looks to prove his fitness for England's series against Sri Lanka, which gets underway at the end of the same month.
Rehab work
"I'm looking to get back for the summer," he told
Sky Sports News HD.
"I'm having a nice little break now and getting myself ready and rehabbing three, four, five times a week trying to get myself right.
When asked if he would be ready for the first Test of the summer in Cardiff, the South African-born right-hander replied: "Yeah, definitely.
"I'm not raring to go right now and I'm enjoying this break - it's amazing. I haven't had one like this for seven years playing for England.
"I'm just making sure they I get myself right, get myself strong and fit.
"I haven't picked up a bat, though. I'll start playing probably in the middle of May, trying to get myself ready and prove my fitness for the first Test match."
England begin their busy summer on home soil with a three-Test series against the Sri Lankans before the two nations face each other in five one-dayers and a one-off Twenty20 international.
