Kevin Pietersen has been included in England's 14-man squad for the Twenty20 series against New Zealand next week.

The batsman, who has been struggling with a knee injury since March, will be available for the second game on Thursday if he comes through Surrey's County Championship clash against Yorkshire beginning tomorrow.

National selector Geoff Miller said: "We have selected a squad with plenty of T20 experience as well as young players new to the international game.

"With an intense period of cricket coming up we are conscious that we need to manage the workloads of our players throughout the summer and this NatWest series gives an opportunity for players who have performed well in domestic cricket and on the England Performance Programme and with the Lions to step up and test themselves in an international environment."

Eoin Morgan will captain the side, while Yorkshire batsman Gary Ballance and Warwickshire pace bowler Boyd Rankin could make their England debuts next week.

England T20 squad:

Eoin Morgan (Middlesex), Gary Ballance (Yorkshire), Ravi Bopara (Essex), Danny Briggs (Hampshire), Jos Buttler (Somerset), Jade Dernbach (Surrey), Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire), Michael Lumb (Nottinghamshire), Kevin Pietersen (Surrey), Boyd Rankin (Warwickshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), James Tredwell (Kent), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Luke Wright (Sussex)