Kevin Pietersen has played Twenty20 cricket around the world since his international career was ended

Kevin Pietersen has admitted he would be open to returning to international cricket with South Africa.

The former England batsman will become eligible to play for the country of his birth in early 2018.

He last wore an England shirt in the 2013-14 Ashes series, where Australia won 5-0, and had his contract terminated after the series for "cricketing reasons".

The 35-year-old has continually said he wants to play for England again but the ECB has ruled out a return.

And the South African, who is currently playing for the Rising Pune Supergiants in the Indian Premier League, said he has thought about playing for the Proteas.

"Yes, it is a thought in my head. If it happens, it happens; if it doesn't, it doesn't," he told Cricket Australia.

"Obviously, playing international cricket is something I have done for a very long time.

"Do I miss playing international cricket? Do I miss batting in international cricket? Yes, I do very much, so you never know.

Pietersen will become eligible to play for the country of his birth in early 2018

"The eligibility for South Africa is still (over) a year away. So we will have to wait and see.

"An English call-up is definitely still an option. I am in a great frame of mind now."

Pietersen left his home country in 2004 to play for England. He scored 8,181 runs in his 104-Test career, notching up 23 hundreds at an average of 47.28.

The batsman scored a further 4,440 runs and nine centuries in 136 one-day internationals at 40.73.

Andrew Strauss, the director of the ECB, said last year a "massive trust issue" with Pietersen was behind his decision not to include him in England's plans.

Prior to the T20 World Cup in India, where England finished runner-up to the West Indies last Sunday, skipper Eoin Morgan said Pietersen did not have a future in the team.

He said: "That door is completely shut. Kevin will not be picked. That's from me."