Kevin Pietersen’s former Test captain Andrew Strauss said yesterday that it is “very unlikely” the record-breaking batsman will ever play for England again.

Pietersen, sacked by the England and Wales Cricket Board after the 2013-14 Ashes defeat, has set his heart on pushing for a return in time for this summer’s rematch.

The 34-year-old signed for Surrey on Wednesday and after indications from new ECB chairman Colin Graves that he may yet be considered again for selection, he is hoping a welter of county championship runs over the next two months could press his claims.

Strauss, however, predicts Pietersen’s efforts will be in vain.

The dual Ashes-winning captain believes Pietersen’s age and history of confrontation are against him and suggests his only realistic chance of resuming his international career is if an “extraordinary” sequence of events first cost either or both coach Peter Moores and Test captain Alastair Cook their jobs.

Strauss had his own difficult times with his fellow South Africa-born batsman, including the 2012 saga in which Pietersen admitted sending “provocative” texts about his captain to opposition players.

The contents of Pietersen’s autobiography, published five months ago and including much criticism of several ex-colleagues and management staff, may be another barrier to his recall.

Strauss said: “If you just look at everything that has gone on in the past, his book, that’s a significant hurdle he’ll have to get over.

“Then also, from a cricketing point of view, in one-day cricket we’ve got to build towards the next World Cup.

“He will be 36 years of age, so I can’t see how he would necessarily play in that.”

by Our Sports Desk