Pietersen returns to action in England

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has hit his first ball on British soil for more than two years, reports cricket.com.au. Pietersen returned to training on Tuesday with county side Surrey ahead of this month's domestic T20 competition. Pietersen had announced a shock return to England's domestic scene earlier this year, eschewing the Caribbean Premier League in favour of remaining closer to home in what he has confirmed will be his last season in the UK. Wielding his customised rhino-themed Spartan bat in his continuing campaign to raise awareness of animal poaching, Pietersen on Tuesday joined Surrey teammates for the outdoors net session.

Batting in England again. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/ldtp4QKleW

— KP (@KP24) July 4, 2017

The Melbourne Stars crowd favourite last played for Surrey in a June 2015 T20 match. And although the competition gets underway on Friday, Pietersen will not appear for another fortnight for the July 19 home match against Essex at The Oval, Surrey's fifth game of the competition. He will complete a powerful line-up that will see KFC Big Bash League cross-town rivals Pietersen and Aaron Finch become teammates. Today is going to be a great day - I'm training with @surreycricket this am. Buzzing with excitement to be playing cricket in UK again! ??

— KP (@KP24) July 4, 2017

Finch, who captains the Melbourne Renegades, arrived in Surrey this week for his second stint with the south London borough. Pietersen, Finch and Kumar Sangakkara or Moises Henriques will form a powerful batting combination with England limited-overs opener Jason Roy.