Pietersen courted for move to Big Bash league after England exclusion

Officials from the Melbourne Renegades hope to speak to the England outcast in Sri Lanka with a view to signing him ahead of the start of the new season in December.

Kevin Pietersen feels the heat.

English cricket outcast Kevin Pietersen could become the next big name recruit for Australia's Big Bash league next season after one side launched a bid to sign him.

Melbourne Renegades chief Stuart Coventry is expected to fly to the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka next week in a bid to sign the 32-year-old.

The player has already received an offer from rival side the Sydney Sixers.

Pietersen was left out of England's touring party for the October Test series against India earlier this week and, with his central contract due to expire at the end of the month, will be a free agent.

Coventry told reporters he hoped to arrange a meeting with Pietersen, who is working as a television commentator at the World Twenty20.

"I'd like to (meet Pietersen) but I think I would want to get an indication first about his availability before talking further," he said.

"We have three places left on our list and one of them is for an international.

"If we can grab someone who stands up at the World Twenty20 that is our first priority, but now that Kevin Pietersen is back in the mix, there's no doubt we and the Sydney Sixers have been having some dialogue with his management.

"If he is available we'd love to grab him but there's a lot of curve balls in play at the moment, about his availability, whether he wants to come to Australia, whether he wants to come to Melbourne or Sydney."

Australia's eight-team Big Bash League begins on December 7, although England cricket chiefs said this week they plan to hold further talks with Pietersen.

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