Surrey coach Alec Stewart has claimed that Kevin Pietersen is 'unfortunate' to have been snubbed by England.

Director of cricket Andrew Strauss confirmed on Tuesday that the batsman would not be considered for selection this summer due to a lack of trust between the former teammates.

After being told by incoming England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Colin Graves that a return to county cricket could boost his hopes of an England return, Pietersen recently scored a triple century for Surrey against Leicestershire.

However, with his international career now seemingly over, Stewart has suggested that the 34-year-old has been treated unfairly by the England hierarchy.

"I think he probably feels a little bit let down from the way he's been talking after the incoming chairman Colin Graves's comments six or seven weeks ago, where it was if you could play county cricket, if you could score runs, the slate would be wiped clean and you would be considered," he told Sky Sports News.

"He has given up a quarter-of-a-million-pound contract in the IPL. He was done what has been asked of him and now unfortunately from Kevin's point of view the door has been shut. I just believe England should be picking their best players and that includes Kevin Pietersen. At the same time it is vitally important the new man Andrew Strauss, who I have huge respect for, does his job properly and is fully accountable and lives by his decisions."

Following the announcement that he would not be part of the England set-up this summer, Strauss revealed that Pietersen had also turned down a role on a one-day international advisory board.