Pietersen not rushing return

12 April 2012

Kevin Pietersen has arrived in South Africa feeling physically and mentally refreshed, but the England batsman insists he will not rush back into action as he takes his final steps towards full fitness.

The 29-year-old has spent a large part of the last three months recuperating from surgery to his right Achilles tendon - an injury that forced him to miss the last three Tests of this summer's Ashes.

"The fitness is not too bad. I've done some rigorous training over the last six weeks, I've done a lot of work at Lord's in the last week before I flew out and I'm feeling good, I'm feeling fresh mentally," said Pietersen.

"I had a bad day on my Achilles on Tuesday, but I think that was just purely down to the flight. I've woken up feeling really good. I'm certainly not going to rush things, I tried that a while back. I got an infection in the wound.

"I enjoyed the break to refresh my batteries, to get myself right and ready to know that I can compete again and want to compete again.

"But I hated getting injured because I wanted to continue playing to be a part of what was a successful summer. So that was where I was at, but now to be back in an England tracksuit is great."

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