Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart has praised Kevin Pietersen 's 'outstanding ' character , but admitted the batsman 's chances of an England return are slim . Pietersen has rejoined Surrey to play in LV= County Championship Division Two in a bid to win a Test recall for the Ashes this summer . The 34-year-old was sacked by the England and Wales Cricket Board after the 2013-14 Ashes whitewash , but Stewart revealed he has never had any problems with his attitude . Kevin Pietersen has been hailed for his 'outstanding character ' by Surrey chief Alec Stewart . Pietersen shared a picture of himself celebrating Australia 's World Cup win with James Faulkner . Surrey cricket director Stewart ( right ) ca n't see a way back for Pietersen with England . 'He 's been as good as gold with us . If he was a bad character we would n't have had him , ' he said on BBC Radio 5 Live . 'Whenever he 's been with us he has been outstanding . He 's helped the youngsters , he 's been in the nets , he 's put on batting clinics and he 's tried his heart out . So hopefully , and I have no reason to disbelieve , he will be exactly the same this time , if not even more hard working and desperate to score runs . ' Stewart accepted , though , that Pietersen 's hopes of playing for England again were likely to be dashed . Pietersen was axed by England following the controversial whitewash by Australia in last year 's Ashes . Test captain Alastair Cook ( left ) admits an England recall is unlikely for the Surrey batsman . ECB managing director Paul Downton has been steadfast in his appraisal that Pietersen will not come back - as have national selector James Whitaker and coach Peter Moores , while Test captain Alastair Cook rated the prospect 'highly unlikely ' . 'If England are winning , they have a good West Indies tour which we expect , then it 's going to take an injury or a huge loss of form for a vacancy to become available , ' Stewart added . 'But all Kevin can do and , that 's what he 's said to us , he 's going to score runs , sit back and see what happens . '
Kevin Pietersen has joined Surrey in bid to win England recall for Ashes . Batsman was sacked by the ECB following the 2013-14 Ashes whitewash . Director of cricket Alec Stewart has praised his 'outstanding character ' but admits chances of a recall are slim .