Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen appears to have moved closer to retirement after admitting the current Big Bash tournament would be his last.

Pietersen, 38 this year, said last year’s T20 Blast would be his last cricket in England and he has now confirmed he will not be playing in Australia again once the current Big Bash ends.

Now a T20 specialist following the breakdown of his England career, the South Africa-born power-hitter says he cannot improve any more and as such is close to calling time.

“Confirming that this is my last BBL as a player!” Pietersen, who has played for the Melbourne Stars for the last four seasons, wrote on Twitter.

“By the time BBL starts later this yr I cannot see myself wanting to improve or try & get better. That means it’s time to finish! I’ll enjoy playing my last few games at the Adelaide Oval, SCG & MCG!”

Pietersen still has commitments to come in 2018 and the Pakistan and South African T20 competitions, but it may well be that he will not play into 2019.

If it is the end, it will bring to a close a colourful, controversial but successful career which saw him plunder 32 hundreds for England, 23 of which came in Tests where he scored 8,181 runs in 104 outings.