Pietersen in demand for Aussie Big Bash League

The chief of Australia’s Melbourne Renegades team will fly to the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka next week in a bid to sign estranged England batsman Kevin Pietersen for the domestic Big Bash series, reports said on Thursday. Renegades boss Stuart Coventry said 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,” Coventry told The Sydney Morning Herald. “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.” Hayden quits Veteran Australian opener Matthew Hayden has called time on his glittering playing career, opting not to play in Australia’s domestic Twenty20 series this year, his Brisbane Heat team said on Thursday. The Heat said that after lengthy discussions, Hayden, 40, had opted not to return for a final series after signing as their marquee player for last season’s inaugural T20 Big Bash League.