London, Oct 30 (ANI): England batsman Kevin Pietersen, who had an operation on his Achilles and faced the last ball on July 18, is refreshed and will bat for the first time in three months.

Pietersen’s hands will be too soft and he will be stiff afterwards but, more significantly, after a year of disillusionment with cricket, he will enjoy himself.

Pietersen accepted that his enforced rest due to injury came as a chance to recharge.

“The big thing is the mental rest. This year has been one of the toughest of my career, with the captaincy debacle in January plus the injury. This break has refreshed my head and who knows how I’ll come back as a player,” The Times quoted Pietersen, as saying.

“My Achilles won’t hamper me any more and I definitely feel fresh mentally. I’ll be starting off really enjoying myself - and this year I haven’t particularly enjoyed playing cricket because I was in pain and because of what happened in January. It’s been a tough thing for me,” he said.

Pietersen needed a break and the operation gave it to him. “I believe everything happens for a reason and these three months have happened to refresh me and knowing that I was sort of falling out of love with the game, it was a symbol or a sign for me to refresh and recharge my batteries.”

He will travel to South Africa for England’s winter tour from November 9 or 10 and his comeback will be in a warm-up game against South Africa A in Potchefstroom on November 17.

His first competitive match should be the first one-day international in Johannesburg three days later. “I can’t wait. I haven’t been at my best since India last year,” he said.

“Preparation is what I bank on and preparation has definitely been hampered because of external thoughts. These last three months have cleared my brain and my thoughts,” he added. (ANI)