Former England star rejoins the nationwide set-up as a specialist mentor forward of the 2027 World Cup
Kevin Pietersen is about to make a exceptional return to the England set-up as a specialist mentor for his or her white-ball groups. Picture: AFP
Kevin Pietersen has joined England’s white-ball teaching crew as a “specialist mentor” within the build-up to subsequent yr’s World Cup in southern Africa.
Pietersen’s function with Brendon McCullum’s teaching workers begins later this month when England face Sri Lanka in three T20 internationals and three ODIs.
The previous England batter has beforehand labored as a mentor with Delhi Capitals within the Indian Premier League and briefly assisted England’s batters throughout an ODI collection in South Africa in 2023.
Pietersen has largely labored as a broadcaster since retiring from skilled cricket in 2018, however has remained outspoken about England’s strategy.
He criticised McCullum’s crew for what he described as a relaxed coaching tradition throughout their tour of India in early 2025, feedback McCullum rejected as “factually incorrect”.
Pietersen will miss England’s ODI tri-series in Pakistan in October however will work with the squad on excursions of Australia and South Africa over the winter.
He’ll then be concerned in house collection towards Pakistan and New Zealand earlier than the 2027 World Cup, which might be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
The England and Wales Cricket Board mentioned Pietersen’s expertise of rising up in South Africa would offer useful native information forward of the event.
He joins former England team-mate Marcus Trescothick, in addition to Tim Southee, Jeetan Patel and Sarah Taylor, in McCullum’s teaching workers.
Pietersen’s return marks a hanging reversal from 2014, when England ended his worldwide profession amid what then director of cricket Andrew Strauss described as a “large belief subject” between the participant and the ECB.
Strauss had additionally revealed on the time that Pietersen declined a proposal to turn into a white-ball adviser – a task just like the one he has now accepted.
Regardless of the acrimonious ending, Pietersen has remained in style amongst a number of England gamers, together with Harry Brook, Tom Banton and Will Jacks.
“I’m immensely proud to have been requested to assist this crew on their journey to win a World Cup in South Africa,” Pietersen mentioned.
“Placing on the England uniform once more for the primary time since 2014 is a profound honour and a deeply particular second.”
Pietersen and McCullum confronted one another 24 instances in worldwide cricket between 2007 and 2013 and later spent two seasons collectively at Pakistan Tremendous League aspect Quetta Gladiators.
McCullum welcomed the reunion, saying Pietersen’s expertise and understanding of elite cricket could be notably useful to England’s batters.
“KP has a singular understanding of what it takes to carry out on the highest degree, which might be massively useful to our gamers,” McCullum mentioned.
“We’ve at all times revered one another and had a powerful appreciation for what the opposite brings to the sport, so I’m actually wanting ahead to working collectively.”