Will Kevin Pietersen snub IPL for a chance to play for England again?
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Controversial all-rounder Kevin Pietersen is eyeing a sensational England comeback.
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Pietersen, who is a regular on micro-blogging site Twitter, has been seen endorsing reports of him being ready to give up Indian Premier League and play County cricket instead for Surrey if that guarantees him a return to the national side. (England did not miss Kevin Pietersen in World Cup 2015: Ponting)
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Pietersen was snapped up at his base price by Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2015 player auction for Rs 2 crore. He had failed to inspire Delhi Daredevils in the 2014 season.
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Pietersen's "move" comes just days after the newly-appointed England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Colin Graves stated that there was a way back for Pietersen in the England team if the former skipper would play County cricket.
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"The first thing he has to do if he wants to get back is start playing County cricket. The selectors and the coaches are not going to pick him if he's not playing, it's as simple as that. I'll leave it at that," Graves said.
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Pietersen has not played for England since the ECB effectively called time on his international career following the disastrous Ashes tour of 2013-14.
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Despite a bitter exit and a subsequent tell-all autobiography hitting out at teammates and former coach Andy Flower, Pietersen has always maintained his desire to play for England again.
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Pietersen further presented his case by displaying good form with the bat in the Big Bash League in 2014 and could be the answer to England cricket team's current state of sorry affairs after their group-stage exit from World Cup 2015.
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The road back to the national side is not going to be easy. Paul Downton, the man responsible for Pietersen's axing is still the head of the cricket board. Pietersen has also had ill-tempered run-ins with coach Peter Moores in the past.
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Only time will tell if Pietersen and ECB can forget their rocky past and reconcile for the good of English cricket ahead of Ashes 2016.
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