Kevin Pietersen 's former Test captain Andrew Strauss remains convinced 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 , to that end - 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 . Andrew Strauss ( right ) believes Kevin Pietersen 's efforts to play himself back into the England Test team for thei summer 's series with Australia will be in vain . Pietersen has rejoined Surrey and will attempt to find his form in the County Championship . Pietersen in action for Surrey during a T20 Blast fixture at the Kia Oval last summer . 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 of 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 told Sky Sports News : '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 . Strauss and Pietersen together during happier times - the victorious 2011 Test series against India . The pair celebrate with the trophy after England 's victory in that 2011 series with India . 'Kevin Pietersen ( will be ) 36 years of age , ( so ) I ca n't see how he would necessarily play in that . 'Also , in the Test match arena , our top five or six have all been in excellent form . 'So it 's not as if there is an obvious place in the side for him either . ' England will head to the West Indies next week , for three Tests , and Graves has already made it clear he will not tolerate defeat there against 'mediocre ' opposition . Graves ' hint that Pietersen 's England career might not be finished after all is at odds , meanwhile , with all other public remarks from within the ECB . Strauss appears impressed by Pietersen 's willingness to play county cricket again , after agreeing his release from the majority of his Indian Premier League contract with Sunrisers Hyderabad . But he will still be shocked if it leads to an England return . ' I think you ca n't fault his ambition , ' Strauss added . Pietersen and Strauss at the crease together during England 's Test series with Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in 2012 . Pietersen was axed by England following unrest during last winter 's turbulent Ashes tour to Australia . 'He 's doing everything right , putting himself in position . He felt that Colin Graves offered him an olive branch , and he 's taking it with both hands ... obviously he 's going to have to go out there and score runs . 'But I have to say I still think it 's very unlikely that he 'll play for England again . 'It 's going to take something extraordinary , England to lose a lot of games and for Pietersen to score a lot of runs - and probably for a captain or a coach , or both , to lose their jobs in the process . ' Strauss senses too that it will be this summer or never for Pietersen , who will be 35 by the time the Ashes begin in July . ' I 'd be surprised if he plays in this Ashes series - and if he does n't , then it 's counter-intuitive that he would then come back in the side when they 'd be building again towards the next Ashes series in two-and-a-half years ' time . 'There would have to be a lot of things that go wrong with the England cricket team between now and the start of the Ashes for him to come back . '
Pietersen has joined Surrey aiming to return to Andrew Strauss Test team . But his former skipper England believes it is 'very unlikely ' Strauss believes Alastair cook and Peter Moores would have to lose jobs before Pietersen was allowed to return . Andrew Strauss head to the West Indies next week for three Tests . They face New Zealand and Australia at home over the summer .