Axed England batsman Kevin Pietersen hopes to be playing again for England by the time the tour of New Zealand starts in February next year, he said on Friday. In a Twitter conversation with New Zealand rugby union star Dan Carter, Pietersen wrote: “Hoping alls sorted & I’m on the NZ tour in Feb. If so I’ll bring you a gun of a bat!” Pietersen was cast into international exile after sending text messages to South Africa players that contained criticism of then England skipper Andrew Strauss during the recent Test series. With reports circulating that Pietersen had also fallen out with several of his team-mates, he was also axed for the ongoing World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka and next month’s tour of India.