Kevin Pietersen to return for Surrey-Lancashire game at The Oval

Kevin Pietersen averages 233.50 from his three County Championship matches for Surrey this season

Surrey have picked England discard Kevin Pietersen for this week's County Championship home game against Division Two leaders Lancashire.

It is his first game of cricket since hitting a triple century for Surrey against Leicestershire, only to be told he would not be selected by England.

Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart was surprised Pietersen was available.

"I'm pleasantly surprised he wants to play. A motivated KP is a fine, fine player," Stewart told BBC London 94.9.

"There will be some people who are surprised because of what the original arrangement was. It was all about trying to get back into the England side and we were pleased and proud to have him.

"Originally, the arrangement was that once either the England door had been shut in his face or he was picked by England then his time with us would stop. It looks as if the door has been shut in his face but he still wants to play. We'll look at this game and then we'll see where we are."

After hitting his highest first-class score against Leicestershire at The Oval earlier in May, 34-year-old Pietersen's hopes of breaking back into the Test team were then immediately ended by new England cricket director Andrew Strauss.

Pietersen's original intention was to fly back to the sub-continent to fulfil his contract with Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League, but he pulled out because of calf and Achilles injuries.