Kevin Pietersen triple century for Surrey sends message to England cricket director Andrew Strauss

Surrey's batsman Kevin Pietersen sent a timely message to new England director of cricket Andrew Strauss by ending a 22-month wait for a first-class century with a triple hundred against Leicestershire at the Oval.

The 34-year-old went to his first hundred since August 2013 just 24 hours before Strauss's unveiling by the England and Wales Cricket Board on 12 May.

Pietersen resumed day two of the Division Two match on 38 not out and despite being dropped on 98 by Jigar Naik, he completed his 50<sup>th career century, and first in the County Championship this season.

He then secured his double century off 276 balls before finishing 326 not out, a career-best score.

Surrey finished to afternoon 528-9 in reply to Leicestershire's 292 all out.

With England's Test match summer starting against New Zealand on 21 May, Strauss and interim head coach Paul Farbrace are likely to come under pressure to consider the recall of Pietersen after the series draw with the West Indies.

The South African-born batsman was unceremoniously sacked from the England team after the Ashes whitewash defeat to Australia but managing director Paul Downton and head coach Peter Moores have since departed the ECB after the group exit at the World Cup.

New ECB chairman Colin Graves said in March that Pietersen would be considered for selection should he be playing regular county cricket, which led to England's record run scorer joining Surrey for the 2015 campaign.