Kevin Pietersen has joined England’s teaching employees on a white-ball consultancy constructing as much as subsequent yr’s World Cup.
Pietersen, 46, will work with the limited-overs groups as a specialist mentor, supporting head coach Brendon McCullum. He’ll begin work subsequent week when Harry Brook’s facet begins their twin sequence matches towards Sri Lanka to finish the English summer time.
Common teaching personnel Marcus Trescothick, Tim Southee, Jeetan Patel and Sarah Taylor stay of their positions.
A T20 World Cup winner in 2010, Pietersen may even be concerned in excursions to Australia and South Africa this winter after which return for subsequent summer time’s sequence with Pakistan and New Zealand, which is able to put together England for the 50-over World Cup in southern Africa subsequent autumn.
Kevin Pietersen is about to return to England in a mentor position
Pietersen mentioned: ‘Placing on the England uniform once more for the primary time since 2014 is a profound honour and a deeply particular second. We have now an extremely proficient white-ball squad, and I’m excited to get within the trenches and work relentlessly arduous with these gamers to maximise their potential.
‘To be part of Brendon’s assume tank over the following 12 months is a incredible alternative, and I can’t wait to get began.’
The shock transfer comes a yr after Pietersen held the same position with Delhi within the Indian Premier League. Delhi completed fifth within the desk however Pietersen didn’t return for 2026 citing a busy schedule.
The ECB consider that his upbringing in South Africa offers Pietersen’s distinctive perspective that can assist the staff in circumstances in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
His recruitment is the newest in a line of ‘specialists’ signed up throughout Rob Key’s tenure as director of England males’s cricket: Mike Hussey was a part of the help employees through the Twenty20 World Cup triumph in Australia in 2022 whereas Kieron Pollard took up the same place within the 2024 occasion within the Caribbean, which resulted in an exit within the semi-finals.
Pietersen performed 104 Exams and 173 white-ball video games for England between 2004 and 2014
Way back to 11 years in the past, England turned to Sri Lankan Mahela Jayawardene to assist them perceive the challenges of taking part in on the pitches of Asia.
‘I’ve obtained immense respect for KP and what he’s achieved within the recreation. He’s had an incredible impression on English cricket, so for somebody together with his expertise, information and stature to need to play a task with this staff is a incredible consequence,’ mentioned McCullum.
‘I’m notably excited for our batters to get the chance to work with him. KP has a singular understanding of what it takes to carry out on the highest degree, which shall be massively worthwhile to our gamers.
‘We’ve all the time 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.’
The appointment of Pietersen, who received 275 worldwide caps throughout all codecs, comes a matter of weeks after one other high-profile former England participant, Andrew Flintoff, left his position as England Lions coach.
Brook was scheduled to work with Pietersen ultimately yr’s IPL however pulled out of the event after prioritising his England commitments.
