KEVIN Pietersen’s determination to relaunch his England career proved bad news for Oxford MCC Universities as he plundered 170 of their attack for Surrey in The Parks yesterday.

Pietersen’s pulling power saw a crowd of around 800 flock to the picturesque ground before lunch for the first day of the non first-class fixture.

And he didn’t disappoint with a dazzling show of strokeplay to help Surrey rattle up 420-7 declared, before the students were reduced to 28-4 at the close.

Pietersen said: “I’m batting as well as I’ve ever batted in my career. It’s just a case of hopefully continuing that.

“No-one’s guaranteed runs, but if I play the way I played today, in the same manner, then I think that I probably will score.”

Oxford head coach Graham Charlesworth commented: “There is certainly a good buzz down here with the media presence as well. It is a really special day.

“It’s Sunday and a nice day and when Kevin Pietersen is in town where would you rather be?

“He is just a massive presence in the game around the world wherever he goes.”