THE Kevin Pietersen-England cricket saga is one of the longest running dramas in the world… And not just in sport.
The South African-born batsman, 35, tore bowling attacks from all across the globe apart in his prime.
From two fifties against old enemy Australia in the 2005 Ashes on his Test debut to a startling 227 against the same opponents in the 2011-12 series, KP was always seen as one of those surely ‘undroppable’ stars.
Yet a series of very public fall-outs with the Three Lions hierarchy, including sending texts regarding former captain Andrew Strauss to South African players in 2012, led to his demise.
Strauss called KP a traitor, adding he’d never forgive him for his antics.
Ever since, Pietersen has been a forgotten man — but not through a lack of trying his end, even attempting a comeback of sorts, breaking back into the England ranks.
However, KP was ‘unanimously’ dropped in 2014, never to return.
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Ever since, the massively talented batsman has tried to wangle his way back into the XI, to no avail.
Fast forward to the present day and Pietersen has been suggesting he will wait the five years necessary to play again for South Africa, even though he will be 37 at that stage.
Earlier this year, on a South Africa return, KP said: “Yes, it is a thought in my head.”
And today, he took to Twitter to hint at a the return next year.
The South African-born batsman — who was only originally qualified for England thanks to his long stint at Nottinghamshire after leaving his nation of birth — innocuously tweeted regarding a golf wager.
He wrote: “Hey, @ScottDMcGregor – I took, @popovic_daniel on in a game of golf last week & he’s left the country without paying his losses…!”
Yet that prompted a response from Daily Telegraph sports reporter Richard Hinds, who quipped: “To be fair you still owe South Africa a cricket career.”
Pietersen promptly replied with simply: “Next year!”
So, can we expect to see Pietersen donning the South African Test whites in 2017? Watch this space.
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