Kevin Pietersen has been in talks with Surrey ‘ for several weeks ’ about a possible return to county cricket after approaching senior figures at the ECB about a shock international comeback before new chairman Colin Graves was appointed . The 34-year-old batsman ’ s hopes of an England return are gaining momentum , with Surrey seriously interested in re-signing the maverick star provided he is released from his Indian Premier League contract . Sportsmail understands Pietersen , currently exiled from the England squad after being sacked by team managing director Paul Downton , has been talking to Surrey ’ s director of cricket Alec Stewart , who is known to be open to him re-signing if he becomes available for all three formats - and not just Twenty20 cricket as he has been in the past . Kevin Pietersen has been in talks with Surrey about a possible return as he plans an England comeback . Pietersen is willing to turn his back on the Indian Premier League in order to represent England . The batsman has been talking to Surrey ’ s director of cricket Alec Stewart - who is open to his return . It emerged on Saturday that Pietersen ’ s IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad are unlikely to object to releasing the star , leaving the unlikely prospect of Pietersen forgoing the IPL to play in the County Championship second division this summer in a bid to resurrect his England career . With incoming chairman Graves showing an appetite for significant regime change at the ECB , he has told Pietersen he will be considered for England selection again if he scores heavily in county cricket . It is understood Pietersen first made contact with the ECB before Graves appointment was announced last month . ‘ There will be a change of scenery at board level with the ECB and I ’ ve always expressed my desire to play for England again if I get the opportunity , ’ Pietersen told Fox News on Saturday . Pietersen , pictured in 2008 , would have to repair his relationship with England boss Peter Moores . ‘ It seems encouraging but I ’ ve obviously got a few steps that I ’ ve got to climb . It just makes perfect sense to explore different things , that ’ s what I ’ m doing . I ’ ve still got more decisions to make - it ’ s the weekend now so nobody will be picking up their phones , but Monday , Tuesday , Wednesday it ’ ll be very exciting hopefully. ’ Downton ’ s decision to sack Pietersen following last winter ’ s crushing 5-0 Ashes whitewash was welcomed by senior players in the dressing room who were further angered by the star ’ s autobiography . The relative paucity of Pietersen ’ s current IPL deal - which at £205,000 is worth barely 20 per cent of any of his previous deals - is understood to be a factor in his willingness to return to the grind of county cricket . At the centre of his attempt to return is the imminent departure of ECB chairman Giles Clarke , who clashed repeatedly with Pietersen following his requests for special treatment over his release for IPL duty . Pietersen 's England future lies in the hands of new ECB chairman Colin Graves . England ’ s players would resist Pietersen ’ s return but their position has been weakened by their dire form since he was sacked . ‘ They ’ d just have to suck it up if he does come back , ’ said one insider on Saturday . If Pietersen - who has a debilitating knee condition - does re-sign for Surrey he would have just three County Championship games to prove himself ahead of England ’ s first Test of the summer against New Zealand at Lord ’ s on May 21 before the Ashes later in the summer . England name their squad for the Test tour of West Indies on Wednesday , with injury doubts hanging over Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes , while Jonathan Trott is in line for a recall .
Kevin ##hes has been in talks with Surrey ' for several weeks ' cricket 's tour of cricket . Stewart is open to the batsman 's return . IPL side officials who are unlikely to commit to releasing players .