Kevin Pietersen has said he would jump at the chance to play for England again and claimed one-day captain, Dubliner Eoin Morgan, "would love" to have him in his World Cup squad.
Pietersen, sacked by England in the wake of last winter’s Ashes whitewash, insists he has the ability and experience to add to his 104 Test and 136 ODI caps.
During his spell as a commentator on the Big Bash League game between Melbourne Renegades and Brisbane Heat, the 34-year-old was asked what his reaction would be if the opportunity to play in the World Cup came his way because of injuries to the England squad.
“I know that the current captain would love to have me in the England team,” he replied. “Who knows? I don’t see why not. I’m hitting it okay and I get on pretty well with most of the guys in there, if not all of them.
"I want to play for England; if I get the opportunity to play for England I will. I'm 34 years of age; Kumar Sangakkara is 38 and has just scored a double hundred. I honestly believe that I'm batting as well as I've ever batted at the moment. I've got over my knee injury which is huge. Over the last 18 months I've just hated batting, just because my knee was so sore.
“I love playing cricket at the moment so given half the opportunity to go and play (in the World Cup), the way I’m playing at the moment, of course I would. The frustrating thing for me is that I’ll be sitting on my sofa watching a series and I’ll get a message from a couple of youngsters in the side saying ‘what shall I do tomorrow – how should I play?’
“That for me is quite sad because I’d prefer to be standing at the other end, or training with these guys, saying this is how we should and shouldn’t do it.”
Pietersen also revealed he believes Michael Vaughan was the best England captain he played under and the one from whom he learned the most.
“Vaughan was brilliant, the messages that he delivered were on key and he didn’t give out too many,” he said. “He liked free spirits and understood players who could win him games. It was good man-management – you should treat everybody individually, try and get the best out of your individuals in the team. It takes all types to win games and you’ve got to get the best out of all types in all different circumstances. That’s leadership.
“(Andrew) Strauss and I were close buddies, but then some things went on and I don’t think he liked a few of the things I said. I actually think we’ll be okay, Straussy is a good man. But occasionally some people just fall out.”
