London: Kevin Pietersen said he'd been offered a "lifeline" after he capped what could turn out to be a memorable week in his turbulent career with a century on his Surrey return.


Kevin Pietersen 

Pietersen has not played for England since being controversially axed last year following the 5-0 Ashes series loss in Australia. But this week saw the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) sack managing director Paul Downton, who played a key role in the decision to send the 34-year-old star batsman into international exile.