Kevin Pietersen will quit English domestic cricket after the following season

36-year-old, Kevin Pietersen will call it a day from English county cricket when his stint in the NatWest Blast with Surrey comes to an end. The former Englishman has revealed that the current season would be his last, as he is seeking a different direction in life.

Pietersen, an England cricketer of South African origin has signed up as the marquee player in the South Africa T20 league, the T20 Global League would also play out his contract at Melbourne with the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League. KP also confirmed that he still intends to play cricket in the other countries, given his status in Australia and South Africa. The former cricketer wants to spend time building a new house throughout the next summer, which is based near the Kruger National Park also involving himself in the wildlife programmes.

Shift in focus

“I reckon this will be my last season playing in England. Next year I am building a house and the whole of the English summer I will be at my house in South Africa so I will not be back in England,” Pietersen said. “My conservation work is at the time when I should be playing here and that work is more important to me,” he added.

The former English international further added his stint with the county side Surrey, where he cannot wait to represent them. Pietersen’s first game this summer for Surrey would be against Essex at the Kia Oval on the 19th of July, where he is available until the end of the tournament.

“I am still playing some of the best cricket of my career,” he said. “I am 36 and I am fitter than I even was when I was playing for England. As long as I am fit and enjoying batting I will play on,” KP further said.

The right-hander has also pulled out of commentating in the Ashes, due to his commitment with the South African league organisers, where he is among one of the ‘marquee’ overseas signings.