Kevin Pietersen gives away wages from Surrey deal

Kevin Pietersen is to donate his Surrey wages this summer to his own foundation. The former England batsman signed a new contract on Wednesday to return to The Oval with an eye on winning his place back in the national side and revealed there will be no personal financial benefit.

Instead, as he tries to push his way back into the England reckoning for this summer’s Ashes, the money he earns from Surrey will be sent to the Kevin Pietersen Foundation – set up to help under-privileged children achieve and prosper.

Pietersen has been tempted back into county cricket by the possibility – revealed by the incoming England and Wales Cricket Board chairman, Colin Graves, at the start of this month – that it could provide a pathway for him to return to Test action after his sacking in the aftermath of the 2013-14 Ashes whitewash defeat.

Pietersen wrote in his Daily Telegraph column: “I always said this was not about money, and I will be donating my full Surrey wage to my foundation.”

He emphasised too that, once Graves hinted that his international career might not definitely be over, he felt he simply had to try. Pietersen is confident he can work again with both England Test captain Alastair Cook and coach Peter Moores.

Cook was present at the meeting when Pietersen was sacked, and Moores and Pietersen both lost their jobs as captain and coach in early 2009 after an apparent power struggle.

“Even if this does not work out and I do not get back in the England team, I will at least end my career knowing I gave it another shot,” Pietersen added. “I would kick myself for a long time if I walked away now, without having a go. The public support since this all started has been incredible and helped make up my mind to pursue this chance to play for England again. All I am looking for is a fair opportunity to play for England again.

“I just want a blank sheet of paper, and to be judged on merit. I will be meeting Mr Graves face to face. I think he is open to discussing drawing a line in the sand in terms of what’s gone on.”

Pietersen’s path back to Surrey was made clear after he was released from his contract with the Indian Premier League side Hyderabad Sunrisers. Tom Moody, the Sunrisers coach, gave Pietersen’s return his full blessing and said he “couldn’t step in the way of anyone’s real desire to want to continue, or at least pursue, their international dream”.

The former Australia all-rounder added that England would be “foolish” if they did not consider a recall.

“There’s a lot of water that has to pass under the bridge first, and that includes him showing he’s going to be regularly fit for long periods of time,” Moody said. “He needs to also prove his form. If you put those two things together, I think England would be foolish not to consider him as a genuine option.”