England’s white‑ball head coach Brendon McCullin has openly welcomed the arrival of former England star Kevin Pietersen, saying he wants the ex‑batsman to push him and the squad to higher standards. The New Zealander, who took charge of England’s limited‑overs set‑up, confirmed that Pietersen will be involved in the team’s programmes through the next few years, culminating in the 2027 50‑over World Cup. Their partnership begins with the three‑match T20 series and the one‑day internationals scheduled against Sri Lanka later this month. Pietersen, now 46, enjoyed a prolific international career between 2004 and 2014, amassing close to 14,000 runs across Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
After retiring, he turned his attention to commentary and punditry, where he did not shy away from critiquing England’s white‑ball performances. Most notably, he highlighted a perceived lack of preparation during England’s 2025 tour of India, a campaign that ended in defeats in both the ODI and T20I series.
McCullin, however, said he had no qualms about those past remarks and saw them as an opportunity for constructive dialogue. Speaking ahead of the opening T20 in Southampton – broadcast live on Sky Sports from 6 p.m. (first ball at 6.30 p.m.) – McCullin explained that he had personally invited Pietersen to join the coaching staff. "When I rang him and asked whether he would be interested in coming and working with England, I think he thought I was joking at first," the coach recalled with a grin.
"He mentioned that he has been quite critical of us in the past and I said, ‘I have no problem with that, mate.’ There are parts I might agree with and parts I might not, and that’s fine." McCullin stressed that Pietersen’s perspective on the game differs from most coaches and that this fresh outlook could be invaluable. "If someone can see something different and point that out to help you become better, then I see that as no bad thing.
Kev will do that and I have encouraged him to do that," McCullin said. He added that he does not want Pietersen to be pigeon‑holed into a single specialty.
"I want him to look across the set‑up and challenge me privately on ways we can improve and do things differently," the coach explained. The New Zealander praised Pietersen’s pedigree, noting that many of England’s current players grew up idolising him during his playing days.
"He is one of those guys who has so much in his life, and for him to give up those things to focus on helping us reach the level we want and challenge for World Cups – we are incredibly lucky," McCullin said. He continued, "Kev was an unbelievable player and a winner. He left no stone unturned with his preparation.
He believed in himself in those big moments and more often than not performed in those moments. He is a big personality and fiercely competitive. Those are attributes we would love to rub off onto our players." According to McCullin, Pietersen has already injected a surge of energy into the camp.
"He has brought a ton of energy to the set‑up within the last 24 hours. His work ethic is second to none and when he is in on something, he is all in," the coach said.
"I am super excited to have him, he is excited and the boys are buzzing." When asked whether other members of the coaching team had questioned Pietersen’s involvement, McCullin dismissed the notion of any friction. "That is the perception but the reality is that we are always challenging each other," he clarified. "I just wanted to add someone of Kev’s stature as we look to become one of the best teams in T20 and one‑day international cricket." McCullin declined to comment on whether Pietersen might eventually take a role with the Test side, directing reporters to the newly appointed red‑ball coach Stephen Fleming for clarification.
Fleming, also a New Zealander, succeeded McCullin as England’s Test boss in August. Although Fleming missed England’s recent 3‑0 sweep of Pakistan – overseen by interim coach Marcus Trescothick – his first official assignment will be a three‑Test series in South Africa over the Christmas period.
He has already arrived in England for a brief visit, during which he will meet captain Joe Root and engage with county coaches. The partnership between McCullin and Pietersen will be on full display in the final T20 against Sri Lanka at the Emirates Old Trafford. The match will also serve as a testing ground for how the two will manage England’s multi‑format stars moving forward. With the 2027 50‑over World Cup slated for a few months after England hopes to clinch an Ashes series – a feat they have not achieved in over a decade – the stakes are high.
Players such as Harry Brook, Joe Root, Jofra Archer and Jacob Bethell are expected to be pivotal across both tournaments. McCullin acknowledged the demanding schedule ahead, noting the need to balance workload and availability of key players across formats.
"We have a big schedule with an Ashes and World Cup to aim for down the line but also big series coming up. We want to make sure we have access as often as possible to the best players across the formats and be aware of workloads as well. There is a bit to pick over but we will get there," he said.
He also praised Fleming’s appointment, calling him a "brilliant man, coach and tactician" who will bring a complementary style to the white‑ball set‑up. "He will do a brilliant job and I look forward to working collaboratively with him across the formats and getting the best for all three forms," McCullin added. Finally, the coach confirmed that discussions are underway regarding the future role of assistant coach Marcus Trescothick within the broader coaching hierarchy.
Fans can tune in to watch England’s white‑ball clashes against Sri Lanka live on Sky Sports Cricket, beginning with the first T20 at the Utilita Bowl on Tuesday. All match times are listed in UK and Ireland local time.