Kevin Pietersen boosted by recent stint at Surrey

Pietersen hit 116 for Surrey against Sussex in a CB40 game

Kevin Pietersen says he is in confident mood ahead of the Ashes due largely to his recent loan spell at Surrey.

The 30-year-old England batsman will play in two four-day games in South Africa in October before heading to Australia for the Ashes in November.

He told BBC London 94.9: "I feel great. It has given me that self belief which I know I can now take to South Africa.

"I needed to go and get a hundred under my belt and feel positive about the way I was playing again."

The South African-born batsman is keen to recover his form and recently joined Surrey after being left out of England's one-day series with Pakistan.

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Pietersen may be available next year since his days as an automatic England pick are over - should the loan turn into a permanent move perhaps?

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The right-hander has passed 50 for England just once this season, and the last of his 16 Test centuries was scored against the West Indies in March 2009.

However, he did hit 116 for Surrey in a 40-over game against Sussex at Hove recently - though he followed that up with a second-ball duck in a County Championship match against Glamorgan.

The England star is, however, determined to get his form back and will play two four-day games for the South African franchise Kwa-Zulu Natal Dolphins in October as a warm-up for this winter's Ashes.

"I need to go and prepare in October for what is going to be an incredible winter," he continued.

"I think the best preparation for that will be to play against the Kookaburra ball and some really good opposition. It's something I have thought long and hard about and I was going to be in South Africa anyway with my family.

"So to get two games is an absolute bonus and I'd rather do that than sit on my couch, I'm really looking forward to it.

"I've just come away from the pressures of international cricket, spent a couple of weeks away from that and I've built myself back up again thanks to a lot of kind words from a lot of people.

"My family have been exceptional as well, so it's all good now."