Pietersen commits future to England

Pietersen said he wanted to provide 8220;confirmation and clarity8221; regarding his situation.

8220;It would be really sad to end a career like this so sitting down with my family,my advisers and my close friends we8217;ve decided and I8217;ve decided that it would be a lot better to finish my career for England on a positive note rather than one that8217;s being developed at the moment.8221;

On Monday he had stated: 8220;I can8217;t rule out that my next Test may be my last,8221; after winning the man of the match award in the drawn second Test at Headingley after a superb innings of 149,which he followed up by taking three wickets.

On Saturday,he made a volte-face,saying he had recognised he realised his love for the international game was too great to let it go and said his earlier comments had been misguided.

8220;There was a press conference that I did Monday night which I didn8217;t handle the right way. I was very emotional. I am who I am in terms of shooting from the hip occasionally. I bat like that 8211; I bowled like that last week! I do make mistakes.8221;

Pietersen added that the dressing room mood had been 8220;sorted out8221; after a 8220;really really good long chat8221; to an unnamed team mate on Friday.

8220;We went through everything . we went through differences,we went through loads of different things and I actually finished that conversation a very happy bloke and somebody who cannot wait to meet up with team on Tuesday,8221; said Pietersen.

8220;I was in an emotional state 8211; I did think that there was a possibility it was my penultimate Test match. I said things I probably shouldn8217;t have said I8217;m sitting here today clearing things up,8221; said Pietersen,saying he was returning unconditionally.

8220;I am wanting to play all three forms of cricket for England again. I want to make myself available for every single form of cricket for England.8221;

He added that he had support from his 8220;marvellous franchise8221; Delhi Daredevils,who had been understanding in recognising he would not play the whole Indian Premier League season.

South African-born Pietersen8217;s future had been a major issue before the series against the Proteas began.

The 32-year-old had already announced his retirement from one-day international cricket,amid speculation he wanted to be available for a full IPL programme.

That fuelled speculation that his motivation for quitting the ODI scene was largely financial 8211; something he roundly rejected Saturday.

8220;Money is not everything to me 8211; I love winning for England. I loved the runs I scored at Headingley. Winning makes me happy.8221; But he did concede that financial security was very important to him. 8220;I8217;ve got a young family 8211; you need to care for your family.8221;

Pietersen had explained Monday that 8220;it8217;s tough for me playing for England,8221; while blasting what he suggested were media leaks about his negotiations with the England and Wales Cricket Board leading into the series. South Africa,gunning for England8217;s world number one Test side position,are currently 1-0 up in the series after Monday8217;s second Test draw. The third Test starts at Lord8217;s on August 16.