24 Sep 2012

Pieterson tweets of cricket comeback to Dan Carter

5:55 am on 24 September 2012

Axed England batsman Kevin Pietersen hopes to be playing again for England by the time the tour of New Zealand starts in February next year.

In a Twitter conversation with New Zealand rugby union star Dan Carter, Pietersen wrote: "Hoping alls sorted & I'm on the NZ tour in Feb. If so I'll bring you a gun of a bat!"

Pietersen was cast into international exile after sending text messages to South Africa players that contained criticism of then England skipper Andrew Strauss during the recent Test series.

With reports circulating that Pietersen had also fallen out with several of his team-mates, he was also axed for the ongoing World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka and next month's tour of India.

England are due to play three Tests, three ODIs and two T20s in New Zealand next February and March.

England's new Test captain Alastair Cook said on Thursday that Pietersen remained in talks with England cricket board officials as the controversial batsman fought to save his international career.