Luke Wright believes Kevin Pietersen can shine in county cricket this summer – but admits the former England batsman is unlikely to end up at Hove.

Pietersen is a free agent after being released by Surrey at the end of last season and is reported to be weighing up offers from a number of counties, although Leicestershire are the only side to have made their interest public.

The 34-year-old was controversially sacked by the ECB last year and has been told the only way he can force his way back into the national side is by scoring runs in the domestic game.

Sussex ace Wright would love to team up with Pietersen again at Hove having played alongside him for the Melbourne Stars during the winter but says it is unrealistic due to financial constraints.

New Twenty20 captain Wright said: “Kev was fantastic in the Big Bash and showed what a fine player he still is. He was superb for the Stars and whoever signs him this summer will be getting a brilliant player.

“I love playing with Kev but being captain this year you get more of an insight into how the club's budget is run. We don't have the biggest budget at Sussex compared to a lot of other clubs so I don’t think it is something we would be able to afford.”