England batsman Kevin Pietersen has signed a full central contract to bring an end to his reintegration process in international cricket and end his feud with the ECB.
Pietersen allegedly exchanged messages with members of the South African test team during the series last summer, leading to his exclusion from the deciding fourth test, England's defence of the T20 World Cup and from the original touring party of India.
A temporary deal was agreed to allow Pietersen to play in England's first test series win over India for 28 years after being 'reintegrated' into the dressing room, having allegedly fallen out with members of the team including Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann.
The announcement draws a line under months of controversy and comes as a significant boost to England ahead of a year when they face New Zealand home and away before taking on Australia in two Ashes series.
Ahead of England's one day international series in India, limited overs coach Ashley Giles said: "Kev has signed up and it's great news. Whatever happened in 2012, we've moved into a new year and it's great to have him. For me his experience in this part of the world is invaluable.
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"The stuff with KP is history, it got out of hand, now he is back on board and playing as well as ever by the look of it. It is great for me to have him. I am looking forward to working with him on a different level."
Without Swann, Broad, James Anderson, Jonathan Trott and Jonny Bairstow for the one-day series against India starting on Friday, Giles believes England's young players must step up to the challenge of preventing a third successive one-day whitewash against the world champions.
"We have to look after our cricketers, particularly with the amount of cricket we have coming up," Giles said.
"In the next 12-18 months it is imperative we look after our best players, both physically and mentally. If that means occasionally resting them or rotating them out of the side then that is the way it will be.
"But wherever there is injury, or rest, or rotation there is opportunity and it's up to the young guys to show what they can do."
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