Kevin Pietersen’s return to the England setup has come a long way since the acrimonious end to his international career in 2014. Now 46 and back as a specialist mentor, Pietersen is focused on helping players avoid the pitfalls he encountered and share the knowledge behind his own successes and failures.
Pietersen was sacked by the England and Wales Cricket Board after the 2013-14 Ashes series, a period marked by tension and what then director of cricket Andrew Strauss described as a “massive trust issue.” The split was among the most bitter in recent English cricket history, bringing a premature end to a career that combined brilliance with controversy.
Speaking at Headingley during an England white-ball training session, Pietersen reflected on those turbulent years with a mixture of distance and acceptance. “That stuff is so long gone,” he said. “I am a completely different person. I live in South Africa. I love doing what I do. I am just here to help Brendon [McCullum] first and foremost, help the players try and become the best versions of themselves.”
His appointment caught many by surprise, given his prior public criticism of England’s set-up. Last year, while commentating on England’s white-ball tour of India, Pietersen questioned the team’s training intensity. “Clearly the perceptions I had before being asked to do the job were completely different to what I feel now,” he told the media. “It is nice to be part of an England team and set-up that is actually really, really driven.” When pressed about his earlier preconceptions, he declined to go into detail, saying, “You know what the preconceptions were. I am not going near it.”
Pietersen’s role is officially as a “specialist mentor” working primarily with the white-ball squads through to the 50-over World Cup next autumn. He is not angling for a coaching role but wants to be a resource players can turn to. “All I want to be is a great person to these guys,” he said. “I want to be the best guy in the room, so that they come to me, and they ask me for information, and if I’ve got stuff for them, I’ll give it to them.”
Among the players Pietersen is working with is Tom Banton, who recently admitted to being in awe of the four-time Ashes winner. Pietersen joked about Banton wanting a YouTube channel, recognizing how his own style as a 50-over player was ahead of its time. During a recent batting session ahead of the first ODI in Durham, Pietersen was seen leading drills focused on strike rotation against spin, involving senior players like Joe Root and Rehan Ahmed.
Pietersen said his experience wearing every England shirt—from Tests to T20s—gives him insight into both the highs and lows of international cricket. “I am lucky to have worn every T-shirt an England cricketer can wear—the good, the bad, the ugly. I can potentially help them to stay away from the ugly.”
He also addressed comparisons between himself and Harry Brook, sparked by comments from Ben Stokes. Like Pietersen, Brook is a maverick batter capable of spectacular performances but also prone to criticism when things go wrong. “Where I can help him is playing situations, because there was a lot of method in my madness,” Pietersen said. “Yes, occasionally, I got out to reckless shots and crazy shots in the ’80s and ’90s but there was a lot of structure to the way that I batted.”
He still keeps notes on his phone about how he approached different formats and techniques, from hitting straight back at the stumps to avoiding certain shots. “That all-round structure is something I could potentially help him with because he’s so flipping good. It’s actually frightening how good he is and how good he can be.”
Pietersen is also open to contributing to the Test side, having already spoken with new Test coach Stephen Fleming about assisting the Test batters. Though he said he wouldn’t take on a full-time role, he suggested he might work with the Test squad in the lead-up to the home Ashes series next summer and a tour of South Africa. “There is a lot of time in the lead-up to an Ashes series and a tour of South Africa, when I will be with the Test batters. There are conversations I can have there.”
For now, Pietersen’s focus remains on his mentoring role with the white-ball teams and helping them prepare for the challenges ahead. His second chance with England may not be permanent, but it is a clear opportunity for the players and staff to benefit from his experience.
According to Yahoo Sports.
