Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen, on Tuesday (June 20), announced that the ongoing English season will be his last in England’s first-class cricket. The right-handed batsman will play for Surrey in the upcoming NatWest T20 Blast following which he will bring down curtains on his illustrious cricket career in England.
However, the South Africa-born cricketer made it clear that he still intends to continue plying his trade with T20 franchises across the globe. The reason behind Pietersen’s unavailability for the next summer is that he will spend the time building a new house near Kruger National Park in order to become more involved in wildlife conservation programmes.
“I reckon this will be my last season playing in England. Next year I am building a house and the whole of the English summer I will be at my house in South Africa so I will not be back in England,” Pietersen said on Monday (June 19). “My conservation work is at the time when I should be playing here and that work is more important to me.
Earlier this year in March, the Pietersen had announced he had re-signed for Surrey, two years after leaving them. Pietersen’s first game for Surrey is against Essex on July 19 and the flamboyant batsman is available for the entire tournament.
“I love Surrey. When they came to me with the offer of playing there instead of the Caribbean I was happy. Surrey has been so good to me. When I go back there training in a couple of weeks, it will be great. I can’t wait,” he said.
He further confirmed he will continue playing franchise cricket. A T20 specialist is in exile since early 2014, Pietersen still has two years left on his contract with Melbourne Stars in Australia’s Big Bash League which he intends to complete. The 36-year old will also ply his trade in South Africa’s upcoming Global T20 League. He was, on Monday (June 19), unveiled as one of eight ‘marquee’ overseas signings during an event in London.
“I am still playing some of the best cricket of my career,” he said. “I am 36 and I am fitter than I even was when I was playing for England. As long as I am fit and enjoying batting I will play on.”
However, with his time in the summer set to be spent in South Africa, Pietersen confirmed he would not play in the next season of the Indian Premier League. But at the same time, the Englishman said he can commentate just like he did in this year’s tournament.
“I’m done playing (in the IPL), but I can commentate,” he said. “The reason why I commentate is I go for one week, come home for two weeks, then I come back for a week and home for two weeks. When you’re a player, you’re there the whole time, you’re everywhere. I can’t do that.”
One of England’s greatest batsmen of this generation, Pietersen has not played for the Three Lions in the last three-and-a-half years since being frozen out after England’s humiliating 5-0 Ashes thrashing in Australia in 2014. Since then, he has played in T20 tournaments in India, Australia, South Africa and West Indies.