Kevin Pietersen rediscovered joy of cricket after injury

England batsman Kevin Pietersen fell out of love with cricket before being sidelined by an Achilles' injury, but is now refreshed and ready to return to action.

Pietersen, who had lost the England captaincy at the start of the year following his spat with coach Peter Moores, played just two tests of the Ashes series against Australia before having surgery in July.

"This year has been one of the toughest of my career, with the captaincy debacle in January plus the injury," Pietersen told British newspaper The Times.

"This break has refreshed my head and who knows how I'll come back as a player. My Achilles' won't hamper me any more and I definitely feel fresh mentally."

Now he is preparing to return to the England team next month in South Africa, where he was born.

"I believe everything happens for a reason," Pietersen said in Friday's edition of the paper. "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."