Centurion Kevin Pietersen vows to continue

Pietersen, 33, will play his 100th Test in the first Ashes contest against Australia, starting on Thursday.

A recurring knee injury had prompted speculation he might retire at the end of the series, but he has set his sights on the 2015 World Cup, and another home Ashes series.

"As long as the body goes well, I'm good for it," said Pietersen.

Pietersen, meanwhile, believes his mistakes, as well as his successes, have brought him to the brink of a "surreal" 100th Test.

England's most talked-about cricketer will reach a century of caps on Thursday at the Gabba, when Alastair Cook's tourists begin their bid for a fourth consecutive Ashes triumph.

Pietersen will become just the 10th England player with 100 or more Tests to his name, and should be followed into three figures by Cook in Perth next month.

It all so nearly did not happen, however, for the South Africa-born batsman because of last year's breakdown in relations with then captain Andrew Strauss and coach Andy Flower.

Only a period of 'reintegration' ensured Pietersen's return for last winter's tour of India.

Pietersen said: "I think as a person, you grow when you make mistakes. We've all made mistakes in all our lives. That's when you learn the most, and if I hadn't learned I wouldn't be sitting here on the eve of my 100th Test match.

"The good has been good; the bad has been bad. There has been some really good stuff, and I've really enjoyed the journey.

"Talking about 100th Test matches is a weird feeling. I'll probably look back on it when I've finished my career and see it as something quite special. But at the moment I just see it as the start of an important Ashes series."