Flower: KP keen to face South Africa

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Pietersen will remain behind to complete his rehabilitation from his Achilles injury when the England team fly out to Bloemfontein on Saturday for a winter tour which comprises two Twenty20s, five one-day internationals and four Test matches, and will catch a flight on November 9.

Pietersen wielded a bat for the first time in three months on Friday afternoon in a training session and England team director Flower said: "He's still got a bit of rehab work to do to get up to speed. Pietersen's been pushing himself running. He's chomping at the bit to get going."

He added: "Hopefully he'll be ok to play in the warm-up game against South Africa A and then ready to go at the start of the one-day series.

"That is what we are targeting. The infection has slowed everything up otherwise he would have been back during the English summer.

"But he brings a superb record, flair, confidence and the ability to counter attack.

"The fact that we won the Ashes with limited contributions from the two big stars (Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff) is a good thing for the unit and the country's cricket and when they come back that adds strength and power. That's a good thing.

"He'll just love getting a bat in his hands again and hitting the ball. That's what he loves doing.

"He is important to us. He's a world-class player who has a special talent and a special confidence. He is a huge boon for us."