Pietersen’s late inclusion could impact on Root in India

The 32-year-old has been added to the England squad for the forthcoming four-Test series after a successful series of meetings in his “reintegration” process.

Pietersen had initially been left out of a 16-man party as the fallout from his exclusion from the side earlier in the summer continued.

The player was dropped for the third Test against South Africa in August amid allegations he had sent text messages to opposing players criticising then captain Andrew Strauss.

The issue also saw him overlooked for the World Twenty20 but efforts were made to resolve the matter and Pietersen apologised for his conduct and signed a new central contract a fortnight ago.

Pietersen has been on Champions League duty with Delhi Daredevils in South Africa but flew back to the UK earlier this week for meetings with new Test captain Alastair Cook, team director Andy Flower and other senior players. England are due to travel later this month ahead of the Test series which takes place in November and December.

Pietersen’s addition may diminish the chances of rookie batsmen Joe Root, of Yorkshire, and Nick Compton, both members of the original squad, breaking into the side but all players will still travel.

ECB national selector Geoff Miller said: “Kevin will join up with the squad as soon as his Champions League commitments are complete.”

English domestic one-day cricket will revert to 50 overs from 2014, while LV= County Championship matches will usually begin on Sundays.

The England and Wales Cricket Board yesterday announced the revised structure for the domestic game for the period from 2014 to 2017, having conducted a survey of more than 25,000 responses to the review of the game by former International Cricket Council president David Morgan.

The Championship will be retained as two divisions of nine teams apiece, with two teams promoted and relegated each season.

Each county will play 16 games, with the first 14 commencing on Sundays.

The FriendsLife t20 will be expanded from 10 to 14 group-stage games for each county, with most being played on Friday evenings after the ECB “noted the strong desire from Counties and spectators to create an ‘appointment to view’ for T20 cricket spread over a longer period of the season”.

The top eight will progress to quarter-finals, with the winners reaching an unchanged Finals Day.

While the renamed Clydesdale Bank 50 has been expanded in terms of overs, the group stage drops from 12 to eight games for each county. Eight teams will advance to a knockout stage.