Pietersen leaves door open for T20 compromise

Pietersen had no option but to forego the shortest format too, thanks to the terms of his central contract, once he informed the England and Wales Cricket Board last week of his intention to quit 50-over internationals.

He admits his controversial decision was a tough one, but he was immediately sure he had made the right call.

“That was the point of the decision – the (packed) schedule,” said Pietersen.

“It’s a difficult decision – you’re giving up something, retiring.

“But waking up the next day, I was absolutely buzzing – no regrets.”

Pietersen made 78 out of 221-5 to stave off any significant threat of defeat for England on day four of the third Investec Test at Edgbaston, after West Indies had piled up 426.

He therefore signed off with some satisfaction from England duties for the next month, in which they will face West Indies and then Australia in a series of limited-overs matches in his absence.

As for the ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka in September, which will follow four Tests against his native South Africa, Pietersen still has not given up hope of a rethink from ECB – despite reports of vexed negotiations already.

“I hope there’s a compromise can be found,” he said. “If they want me to play T20 World Cup I’ll play it – but contracts are contracts. They’d have to change the rules to make that happen.”

Pietersen is convinced, however, that he is better off without 50-over cricket – irrespective of those five ODIs against Australia in the immediate future, or the World Cup Down Under in 2015.

“You can’t carry on doing it all, playing every format – IPL, Champions League in October,” said Pietersen. “Apart from Mahendra Singh Dhoni, I’ve played the most days over the last seven years.

“There comes a time when some format has to be taken out of my schedule – and ODI was it.”

While England are playing against Australia this summer, Pietersen will be on holiday at first and then preparing for the forthcoming Test series against South Africa , with Surrey.

“There’s not a chance I’ll have mixed feelings about missing that,” he said. “I’ll be enjoying time off with my family. I’ve made the decision.

“If I wanted to play in those matches against Australia, I would have. I’m having a break until the beginning of July. I’m hitting balls throughout June because I need to keep myself in good shape.”