Kevin Pietersen sends strong message to ECB by smashing 170 runs off 149 balls

Pietersen impressed for Surrey against the Oxford University students

Out-of-favor England batsman, Kevin Pietersen, scored an impressive 170 in 149 deliveries for Surrey at The Parks on the opening day of a three-day match against MCC Universities Oxford – his first century in any form of cricket since the Ashes Test of 2013 at Old Trafford.

His timely knock sent a strong message to the England selectors, who have overlooked Pietersen since being controversially axed from the squad after the 5-0 Ashes loss in Australia.

“It was a huge day for me,” said Pietersen, as he looks to reclaim his place in the England team.

“I've been given a lifeline. It's an opportunity to try and get back to doing something that I love that was taken away from me.

“I'm here to churn out runs. I want to get my place in the England team back. I don't know exactly what I have to do because I haven't met the ECB yet. Right now, hit the ball like I hit it today will do enough talking. I'm not sure I need to sit round a table.” he added.

The South African-born Englishman plundered the Oxford students' attack by smashing 2 sixes and 24 fours in his 170-run knock.

“I’ve been given a lifeline”

On his batting performance, he said, “It was really important to get my head down, but it's the way I wanted to go out and play.

“It doesn't matter what sort of bowling attack I was facing, I was in for it today. There was obviously a lot of pressure today, purely on the fact that there's a bit of a circus around this game and it's my first game in whites for a while, but this is a nice start.”

Showing his excitement to play on and stage a comeback, the 34-year-old added, “I'd like this hundred to be the first of many this summer. The last few weeks have been pretty incredible – I've been given a lifeline and a chance to do something again which was taken away from me prematurely.”

“You know what? If it leads to an England recall, then absolutely fantastic – but I've got to get through the field.”

The swashbuckling batsman is England's all-time leading international run-scorer across all formats. He gave up the opportunity to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and re-signed with county side, Surrey, in a bid to prove his desire for an international recall.