KEVIN Pietersen believes he has been offered an England lifeline after the departure of England and Wales Cricket Board managing director Paul Downton.

Pietersen was speaking after scoring 170 in Surrey’s 420-7 declared in The Parks on the opening day of the non first-class match with Oxford MCC Universities yesterday.

Downton, who described Pietersen as “disengaged” during the Ashes whitewash in early 2014, was a key figure in the 34-year-old’s ostracism from the England set-up, but left his role last week.

Incoming ECB chairman Colin Graves, who takes over from the organisation’s president-elect Giles Clarke next month, recently suggested that a prolific run in county cricket could see Pietersen reinstated.

“I’ve been given a lifeline,” Pietersen said after thrilling a big Oxford crowd with his 149-ball knock, which included 24 fours and two sixes.

“I really, really like the way that the new bosses are talking, from stuff that you read and stuff that you hear.”

Pietersen was ably supported by Gary Wilson, who finished unbeaten on 119.

The former England star was twice dropped – the first a difficult opportunity after he reached three figures – before eventually falling, caught by Jack McIver off the bowling of Abi Sakande.

Surrey put their hosts in for an hour, with the students reaching 28-4 before bad light stopped play.

Chris Tremlett, another England Test player, took 3-3.