Durban - England’s leading run scorer Kevin Pietersen was on Tuesday unveiled as the Dolphins’ marquee signing for this season’s RAM SLAM T20 challenge starting in November.
The Pietermaritzburg-born 35-year-old returns to the Durban side where he began his career before he decided to make the move to England in 2000 in protest against the quota system he believed would hinder his cricket future.
Pietersen played for England from 2004 to 2014 in all formats of the game when the outspoken and controversial batsman appeared in his last Test for his adopted country. His fiery nature often led to clashes with management in the England team and finally led to the player being unceremoniously dropped from all forms of the game.
CEO Pete de Wet: "We're very excited to welcome Kevin back!"
— Dolphins Cricket (@SunfoilDolphins) September 8, 2015
Pietersen, however, often held out hope of a return to the England setup, but in May former teammate and current England cricket chief Andrew Strauss ruled out any future return to the side for the explosive batsman.
In his 104 Tests for England, Pietersen amassed 8181 runs at an average of 47.28 with a highest score of 227. In One Day Internationals, Pietersen played 136 matches scoring 4440 runs at an average of 40.73 with a top score of 130.
. @KP24 presented with his new @SunfoilDolphins jersey! pic.twitter.com/QihrNBghz5
— Dolphins Cricket (@SunfoilDolphins) September 8, 2015
Though he played just 37 T20 Internationals for England, it was in the shortest format of the game where his breathtaking, flamboyant strokeplay was possibly best-suited where he excelled in the IPL for the Deccan Chargers and the Delhi Daredevils.
KP: "Attendance figures around the world haven't been great; hopefully the numbers here (SA) grow even more."
— Dolphins Cricket (@SunfoilDolphins) September 8, 2015
In T20s Pietersen has played 130 matches scoring a phenomenal 3539 runs at a blistering strike-rate of 131.95.
ANA