Andrew Strauss believes that it would be very difficult for Kevin Pietersen to make his return to the England team.

The 34-year-old was handed a lifeline to his international career by England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Colin Graves after a year out of the game following his sacking in the light of the Three Lions' Ashes defeat.

However, the former England captain feels that the comments made by Pietersen in his autobiography, as well as his advancing years, would make a return to the fold unlikely.

Strauss told Sky Sports News: "If you just look at everything that has gone on in the past, his book that's a significant hurdle he'll have to get over.

"Then also, from a cricketing point of view, in one-day cricket we've got to build towards the next World Cup.

"Kevin Pietersen [will be] 36 years of age, [so] I can't see how he would necessarily play in that. Also, in the Test match arena, our top five or six have all been in excellent form. So it's not as if there is an obvious place in the side for him either."

Pietersen penned a deal to play for Surrey in the 2015 season.