LONDON: England has appointed Kevin Pietersen, an ICC Hall of Famer and former swashbuckling batter, as a specialist mentor to its white-ball cricket team. The move aims to bolster the team's preparations for the upcoming Cricket World Cup in South Africa next year.

According to International Cricket Council, Pietersen, who debuted for England in November 2004, made significant contributions to the team's limited-overs cricket, amassing 4,440 ODI runs with an average of 40.73. He also played a pivotal role in the early stages of T20I cricket, securing 1,176 runs at an average of 37.93 and a strike rate of 141.51. Pietersen was part of the England team that won the Men's T20 World Cup in 2010.

Recently, Pietersen served as a mentor for the Delhi Capitals during the 2025 Indian Premier League. His new role with England's team will see him collaborating with Brendon McCullum's leadership, starting with the Sri Lanka ODI and T20I series. Pietersen will also accompany the team on white-ball tours to Australia and South Africa, and will rejoin them for the home series against Pakistan and New Zealand next summer, as well as the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup.

Pietersen expressed pride in his appointment and eagerness to contribute to the team's success. "Putting on the England uniform again is a profound honour," he stated. "We have an incredibly talented white-ball squad, and I am excited to work with these players to maximise their potential."

McCullum welcomed Pietersen's involvement, highlighting the value of his experience and insights for the team's batters. "KP has a unique understanding of what it takes to perform at the highest level," McCullum said, expressing his enthusiasm for their collaboration over the next year.