Kevin Pietersen: Surrey batsman hits triple century

Kevin Pietersen has scored 8,181 runs in 104 Test matches for England

Kevin Pietersen hit an unbeaten career-best 326 for Surrey in the County Championship against Leicestershire to remind Andrew Strauss of his abilities.

Strauss, newly appointed as England's director of cricket, will reportedly make a decision on the batsman's international future on Tuesday.

Leicestershire's bowlers made Pietersen work hard for his runs, with Kumar Sangakkara the next top-scorer with 36.

The 34-year-old hit 34 fours and 14 sixes as Surrey closed on 528-9.

Pietersen also shared century stands with the final two batsmen Chris Tremlett (30) and Matt Dunn, who ended the day five not out, as Surrey lead by 236 runs.

The right-hander, who was told he was no longer part of the national side's plans in February 2014, scored 8,181 runs in 104 Test matches for England, with 23 tons and is the fifth-highest run-scorer for his country.

Having seemingly been given hope of a potential return to the Test side by England and Wales chairman Colin Graves, Pietersen re-signed for Division Two side Surrey in April.

Despite scoring 170 against Oxford MCCU, the South Africa-born batsman had managed just 112 runs in four innings, with a high score of 53 not out before his hundred against Leicestershire.

He reached three figures off 153 balls, having been dropped on 96 by Jigar Naik off a tough caught and bowled chance and moved to 150 off 228 balls.

Pietersen survived three further dropped catches, including a relatively easy catch at first slip by Mark Cosgrove off Ben Raine on 110.

Despite the rest of the Surrey batsman struggling at the Oval against Clint McKay (3-78) and Raine (3-111), Pietersen passed 200 having hit 26 fours and two sixes.

And, having made his first double century since July 2012, he accelerated against the tiring visiting bowlers, taking just a further 83 balls to reach his triple century.

A total of 86 of those 100 runs came in boundaries and he sent a full toss from Naik over the legside boundary for a maximum to pass the landmark.