Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has admitted that he is surprised with the ECB for reportedly telling Kevin Pietersen that he will not play for the national side again.

Reports have suggested that new director of cricket Andrew Strauss has told Pietersen that he will not be under consideration for any international recall, just months after new chairman Colin Graves told him that he could play again if he was playing county cricket.

Pietersen looked to have put himself in the frame for a return after he fired a maiden unbeaten triple century in Surrey's County Championship clash with Leicestershire at The Oval on Monday.

Flintoff, who played with the 34-year-old for England, has sided with the exiled batsman.

"Wow! On one hand I respect Strauss for making a ballsy decision on KP however got to think he's made a very bad one, reasons please?" Flintoff wrote on Twitter.

Pietersen was initially sacked over a year ago following England's 5-0 Ashes defeat.