Kevin Pietersen has been told to make the England selectors’ lives difficult after his barnstorming start to the summer.

England’s exiled record run-scorer made 170 for Surrey against Oxford MCC Universities in The Parks on Sunday.

The 34-year-old had a quieter second day back in his cricket whites, fielding at mid-off and slip as Oxford dug in after resuming on 28-4.

Jack McIver top-scored with 83, featuring 11 fours and a six, in the students’ 224 all out as Chris Tremlett, another England Test player, took 5-30.

Surrey reshuffled their batting order for the second innings, and Pietersen watched on as they reached 182-3 at the close, with Zafar Ansari making 53, for a lead of 378.

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Pietersen’s impressive return to long-form cricket 14 months after his England sacking was timely, coming on the eve of the first Test with the West Indies.

And Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart said yesterday: “Anyone who scores runs will ask questions of the selectors.

“Kevin shouldn’t look any further than the next innings, whether it’s here or down at Cardiff (in the County Championship opener with Glamorgan).”

Scores: Surrey 420-7 dec (K Pietersen 170, G Wilson 119no) & 182-3 (Z Ansari 53), Oxford MCCU 224 (J McIver 83, C Tremlett 5-30).