Pietersen casts doubt over Test future

England's Kevin Pietersen has cast doubt on his Test match future, saying there are "obstacles" which have to be overcome in order for him to continue.

Pietersen scored 149 in the first innings of the second Test against South Africa at Headingley and took three wickets in the tourists' reply.

However, asked after the drawn game to give an assurance that he would play beyond the third Test against South Africa at Lord's, the 32-year-old said: "No, I can't give assurances. All will be discussed and we'll see what happens."

He added: "There are obstacles and I'll decide what happens at the end of the next Test."

Pietersen ended his limited-overs career for England when he announced his shock retirement from the shorter formats of international cricket, at the age of just 31, earlier this summer.

However, soon after he revealed he would "love to play for another three or four years in all forms of cricket'' and admitted he was in talks with the England and Wales Cricket Board to reverse his decision to quit.

The right-hander has since claimed England's international schedule, which played a major part in his decision to retire from limited-overs internationals, was still a major hurdle in any possible return.

He had initially wanted to call time only on 50-over cricket and carry on in Twenty20, but the terms of ECB central contracts prevent players picking and choosing their formats.