Pietersen returns to England setup as white-ball mentor ahead of 2027 World Cup

LONDON : Former England batter Kevin Pietersen will return to the national setup for the first time since his international retirement in 2014 after being appointed specialist mentor to the white-ball teams ahead of next year’s World Cup in southern Africa, the England and Wales Cricket Board said on Monday.

Pietersen, who won the Ashes and T20 World Cup with England, will join head coach Brendon McCullum’s coaching staff for the upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka.

The 46-year-old will work alongside Marcus Trescothick, Tim Southee, Jeetan Patel and Sarah Taylor, with his role extending through England’s tours of Australia and South Africa, as well as home series against Pakistan and New Zealand next summer.

Pietersen’s involvement will continue through the ODI World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in October 2027.

“I am immensely proud to have been asked to help this team on their journey to win a World Cup in South Africa,” Pietersen said. “Putting on the England uniform again for the first time since 2014 is a profound honour.”

Pietersen scored nearly 14,000 international runs across three formats but his England career ended acrimoniously after the 2013-14 Ashes series, with reported tensions involving teammates and management.

His experience of South African conditions could prove valuable as England seek to reclaim the ODI World Cup title they won in 2019.