Kevin Pietersen will rejoin England’s ranks after accepting a white-ball teaching function – a dozen years on from his worldwide taking part in profession ending in controversial vogue.
The previous England captain has been appointed as a specialist mentor to the ODI and T20 groups within the build-up to subsequent yr’s 50-over World Cup in southern Africa and he’ll get caught into his new function in a limited-overs collection in opposition to Sri Lanka from subsequent week.
Pietersen is considered certainly one of England’s biggest batters of the twenty first century and was instrumental of their 2005 Ashes win, together with his hundred on the final day on the Oval securing a seminal 2-1 triumph.
His England taking part in days got here to a much-publicised bitter finish after the 2013-14 whitewash in Australia following a fallout with the administration however he has been welcomed into the fold by white-ball head coach Brendon McCullum, whose time accountable for the Check facet ended this summer season.
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Proud
“I’m immensely proud to have been requested to assist this group 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.
“We now have an extremely gifted white-ball squad and I’m excited to get within the trenches and work relentlessly laborious with these gamers to maximise their potential.
“To be part of Brendon’s suppose tank over the subsequent 12 months is a improbable alternative, and I can not wait to get began.”
PICTURE: Mike Egerton/PA
Coacing set-up
Pietersen wrote an autobiography that was extremely crucial of former coaches and team-mates months after he was exiled by England, whereas he was crucial of the present white-ball set-up throughout their tour of India in early 2025, claiming they’d not been coaching sufficient.
Pietersen, who was participant of the event when England received the 2010 T20 World Cup and has been a mentor for Delhi Capitals within the Indian Premier League, will hyperlink up with Ashes 2005 team-mate and batting coach Marcus Trescothick within the backroom for the collection in opposition to Sri Lanka.
Tim Southee, Jeetan Patel and Sarah Taylor will full the teaching set-up for 3 T20s and three ODIs in opposition to Sri Lanka.
Pietersen will once more be concerned for this winter’s white-ball excursions to Australia and his native South Africa after which for residence collection in opposition to Pakistan and New Zealand subsequent summer season earlier than the 2027 50-over World Cup within the autumn in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
PICTURE: Joe Giddens/PA
Respect
McCullum mentioned: “I’ve received immense respect for KP and what he’s achieved within the sport.
“He’s had an incredible influence on English cricket so for somebody together with his expertise, information and stature to need to play a task with this group is a improbable outcome.
“I’m notably excited for our batters to get the chance to work with him.
“KP has a novel understanding of what it takes to carry out on the highest stage, which might be massively priceless to our gamers.
“We’ve at all times revered one another and had a robust appreciation for what the opposite brings to the sport, so I’m actually trying ahead to working collectively.”
PICTURE: Rebecca Naden/PA
Legend
Jofra Archer is trying ahead to working alongside Pietersen however the quick bowler admitted he has had few earlier interactions with the 46-year-old, who has primarily labored in broadcasting since retiring from taking part in in 2018.
“I’ve by no means been in the identical groups or something like that with him, so I’ve by no means had the chance to talk to him,” Archer mentioned.
“However he’s a legend of the sport, it’s nice to have him round.”
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