Pietersen to leave Hampshire

Kevin Pietersen will leave county side Hampshire at the end of the season, the England batsman announced Thursday.

The 29-year-old South Africa born shotmaker wants to spend more time at his London home with wife Jessica and the couple's son.

Pietersen, who made his name in English cricket with Nottinghamshire, played for southern club Hampshire for the first time in two years in their Twenty20 match against London-based Surrey on Sunday.

Given Pietersen is an England centrally contracted player and a mainstay of the side in all three international formats, the chances of any county club seeing much of him in the next few seasons would appear slim.

"I have not had much opportunity to play for Hampshire but I want to thank the players, staff, chairman and fans, for the support I have had during my time at The Rose Bowl," Pietersen said.

"Hampshire is a great club and I wish them well for the future."

Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove added: "Given England's critical dependence on KP in all forms of cricket, we have not seen anything like as much of him as we would have liked over the past six years.

"He remains, however, a fantastic player and we wish him continued success wherever he plays and, in particular, we wish him, Jessica and Dylan every happiness."

England open their five-match one-day international series against Australia at The Rose Bowl on Tuesday.