Prime Minister David Cameron has backed calls for Kevin Pietersen to be recalled to the England cricket team.

The colourful batsman was excluded without an explanation by the England Cricket Board earlier this week, but the PM has praised the South Africa-born Pietersen and admitted that KP's friend Piers Morgan made a "powerful argument" to have him recalled.

Speaking to BBC Sport, the Tory leader said: "I am an enormous fan of Kevin Pietersen and I have had some of my most enjoyable times watching him tonking the ball all over the park.

"His average is remarkable. It is not often I have a sympathy for Piers Morgan but I thought he was making quite a powerful argument this morning on my radio.

"But I will let the England selectors pick the England team, I think I had better stay out of this one."

Pietersen was part of the side that were thrashed 5-0 by Australia in The Ashes.