Kevin Pietersen has spoken of his relief at returning to international action after being included in the England squad for next week’s Twenty20 internationals against New Zealand.
Pietersen had been unavailable to England since March due to a knee injury.
The South Africa-born shotmaker is regarded as the most talented batsman in the England set-up and has scored 7,499 runs, including 22 hundreds, in 94 Tests at an impressive average of 49.01.
In T20 internationals, he has scored 1,176 runs at an average of 37.93.
Pietersen, 32, was included Thursday in England’s squad for the Twenty20 internationals against New Zealand at his Surrey home ground of The Oval in south London.
He will be available for the second match on June 27 provided he successfully completes a four-day County Championships game for Surrey away to Yorkshire beginning on Friday, the England and Wales Cricket Board said Thursday.