article_snippet: Kevin Pietersen will have nine County Championship matches at the most to impress England's selectors .
article_snippet: They have nonetheless long been front-runners to re-sign Kevin Pietersen, but had no update on Tuesday to the situation as of a week ago when a spokesman said: 'We are still in discussions.'
article_snippet: Kevin Pietersen's availability for all formats, as soon as possible, has appeared a starting point for Kevin Pietersen possible return to The Oval - and Kevin Pietersen presence at the start of the season, rather than spending six weeks at the IPL, is therefore a key development.
article_snippet: New England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Colin Graves this month revived the record-breaking 34-year-old batsman's hopes of a return to the fold, contrary to the public remarks by anyone else associated with the governing body.
article_snippet: But a pre-requisite from Wales Cricket Board chairman Colin Graves was that Kevin Pietersen must first of all find a way back into county cricket - and then, of course, start scoring runs again.
article_snippet: Kevin Pietersen will miss the regular season in the IPL but could be summoned for the knockout stages .
article_snippet: Kevin Pietersen may still be recalled by the Sunrisers for just a one-week period, should Kevin Pietersen qualify for the IPL the IPL knockout stages between May 19 and May 24.
article_snippet: That, however, ought not to be an insurmountable problem for any county interested in securing Kevin Pietersen services.
article_snippet: A statement on Kevin Pietersen website spelled out Kevin Pietersen's next move - without specifying Surrey as Kevin Pietersen immediate destination - and that Kevin Pietersen has Kevin Pietersen heart set on an New England return in time for this summer's Ashes rematch, beginning in July.
article_snippet: Kevin Pietersen read: 'The four-time Ashes winner, who is also New England's highest ever run-scorer in all formats, will... join a domestic county with the aim of earning a place in the New England squad for the upcoming Ashes series.'
article_snippet: Kevin Pietersen quickly made it clear at the start of this month that Kevin Pietersen was delighted to take Graves at Kevin Pietersen word, that the slate will be wiped clean for all under Kevin Pietersen tenure, and Kevin Pietersen has since confirmed Kevin Pietersen has already spoken to the incoming chairman on the telephone.
article_snippet: The controversial South Africa-born batsman has received little encouragement yet in public remarks from other quarters - including ECB managing director Paul Downton and national selector James Whitaker.
highlights_snippet: Kevin Pietersen is set to sign with Surrey for the County Championship .
  
highlights_snippet: Kevin Pietersen will have nine games to impress England selectors before the Ashes .
  
highlights_snippet: But the batsman can still be called up for the Indian team's finals series .
  