In an association few would have anticipated, the swashbuckling former England batsman Kevin Pietersen has been appointed as a ‘Specialist Mentor’ by the ECB for England’s white-ball teams, keeping in mind the ICC World Cup 2027.
Pietersen and the ECB had parted ways a dozen years ago in an unceremonious fashion and on bitter terms, with the dynamic batter axing in 2014 partially influenced by some of his alleged off-field issues with other teammates.
The 46-year-old Pietersen will join Brendon McCullum and his coaching staff ahead of the home white-ball matches against Sri Lanka. Starting September 15, Harry Brook’s contingent will host Sri Lanka for a three-match T20I series, which will be followed by a three-ODI series.
Then, in October, England will be involved in a tri-series with Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Pakistan. The Three Lions will tour Australia in November for eight white-ball matches.
Since retiring from top-level professional cricket about eight years ago, Pietersen has extensively been a broadcaster. He has also been part of the Delhi Capitals’ coaching staff as a mentor in the IPL.
Pietersen said, “I am immensely proud to have been asked to help this team on their journey to win a World Cup in South Africa. Putting on the England uniform again for the first time since 2014 is a profound honour and a deeply special moment.”
Why did the ECB appoint Kevin Pietersen as Specialist Mentor?
The ECB said in its statement that Pietersen will be in his role at least until the World Cup 2027, which is scheduled to be played in October-November in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
ECB explained that the England players could make good use of Pietersen’s knowledge of the African conditions, having grown up in South Africa.
The EBC stated, “Having grown up in South Africa, Pietersen’s knowledge and understanding will particularly help the One Day International team as it prepares for next year’s World Cup which is being played in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.”
Born in 1980 in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, to an Afrikaner father and an English mother, Pietersen moved to England in his late teens, feeling that the racial quota system hindered his opportunities in Natal and South Africa.
He made his England ODI debut in 2004, but it was in the Ashes 2005 that the stylish right-hander made his first big splash in international cricket.
While he remained engulfed by non-cricketing controversies, particularly in the dressing room, his talent, chutzpah, and skillset on the field made him stand out from the rest. Pietersen was an outlier in the England team, literally too.
The right-hander made 13797 runs in a decade-long international career, notching up 32 centuries and 67 fifties. Pietersen was the Player of the Series in England’s triumphant 2010 ICC T20 World Cup campaign in the West Indies.
He also played a key role in England becoming the No. 1 ICC Test team in 2011, which involved an away Ashes 2010/11 victory and a 4-0 thumping of India in the following home summer.
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