Kevin Pietersen Speaks on Potential Return to England Cricket Team

Incoming ECB chairman Colin Graves has left the door open for Kevin Pietersen to return to England's national cricket team, and Pietersen seems willing to do whatever it takes to make sure it happens.   

Graves will start as chairman in May and has already indicated Pietersen wouldn't be passed over if he produced enough runs, a stark contrast to the ECB's message in recent years. Despite Pietersen's excellent track record, he was banned from the team for character concerns, per the Guardian's Andy Wilson.

As reported by the Daily Mail's Lawrence Booth, the batsman seemed very excited about Graves' comments, even if it means he would have to give up playing for one of his Twenty20 franchises in order to return to County cricket, something Graves mentioned as a requirement:

"

The previous chat was clearly that I had been banned from playing for England, which for me was incredibly sad because I do feel my career was cut short and taken away from me at 33.
This is not a deal about money. This is about me playing cricket for England, doing something I love. I will have to go away and see where my future lies. But this is really encouraging.

"

With England struggling tremendously at the 2015 Cricket World Cup, the news one of the country's most popular and productive batsmen might finally return to the team was understandably well-received.

TV personality Piers Morgan and former football star Gary Lineker discussed the potential return on Twitter:

"

“@piersmorgan: Your move @KP24 - this is exciting. http://t.co/rPuzwdgT92” < Will be tough for him to make this superb England team!

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) March 1, 2015"

It's unclear Pietersen would return to Surrey should he play County cricket, but he likely wouldn't be short of suitors given his excellent track record.   

The news is far from a guarantee Pietersen will in fact don the colours of England once again, but just the thought it could happen after the relationship between the player and the ECB seemed broken beyond repair should excite fans of the sport around the country. 

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