Kevin Pietersen scores 170 for Surrey as campaign for England recall starts

Kevin Pietersen's campaign to earn an England Test recall began with his first century for nearly two years for Surrey against Oxford MCCU at the Parks.

The 34-year-old made 170 from 149 balls with 24 fours and two sixes in his opening first class appearance of the season, putting on 203 for the sixth wicket with Gary Wilson.

The knock was Pietersen's first three-figure score in any form of cricket since the third Ashes Test match against Australia at Old Trafford in 2013.

Pietersen was sacked by the England and Wales Cricket Board after the Ashes in February 2014 but after joining Surrey for the 2015 season has stated his intention to make a return to international cricket.

New ECB chairman Colin Graves has urged Pietersen to play county cricket this season if he wishes to be considered for selection again and after the three-day game with Oxford Surrey begin their Division Two campaign against Glamorgan on 19 April.

Calls for Pietersen to be reinserted back into the team could intensify in the coming weeks as England face the West Indies in a three-test series starting on Monday in Antigua.