Kevin Pietersen has expressed genuine excitement about rejoining the England cricket structure, having been appointed to the white‑ball coaching team for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, interim head coach Marcus Trescothick confirmed. The former England star will act as a specialist mentor, a role that will extend through to the 2027 Cricket World Cup scheduled to be held in Africa next year.
He is expected to meet the squad later this week as they prepare for the opening Twenty20 International against Sri Lanka, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket at 6 p.m., with the first delivery scheduled for 6.30 p.m. Trescothick and Pietersen share a historic connection: both were members of the England side that secured the famous 2005 Ashes victory. That experience gives Trescothick first‑hand insight into the qualities Pietersen can bring to the current group, and it also underscores the depth of cricketing knowledge that the duo collectively possess.
"He is buzzing about putting the England shirt or tracksuit back on, thrilled for the opportunity and genuinely excited," the England batting coach remarked. "His presence and the wealth of batting insight he offers – he has always viewed batting from a unique perspective – will only enhance our white‑ball game if we can tap into it effectively." The appointment has sparked debate, as it arrives more than a decade after Pietersen’s contentious departure from the England set‑up following the 5‑0 Ashes loss in Australia.
At that time the ECB claimed he had become "disconnected" from the squad and criticised him for not supporting then‑captain Sir Alastair Cook. Pietersen’s earlier career also includes a 2012 omission after he sent text messages to South African players, and a brief captaincy in 2008 that ended after a strained relationship with head coach Peter Moores. Since hanging up his boots in 2018, Pietersen has not shied away from voicing his opinions on England cricket.
He notably criticised the white‑ball side’s preparation on a January tour of India, a period when Brendon McCullum had just taken over as head coach – the very coach Pietersen will now be working alongside. England have enjoyed a period of strong form, having thrashed India 4‑0 in a T20 series earlier this summer, briefly overtaking them at the top of the world rankings, and securing consecutive ODI series victories over Sri Lanka and India. Against that backdrop, hiring Pietersen may appear risky, but the board seems confident that his experience will add a new dimension to an already successful unit. "You can see the team moving in the right direction; we’ve had great results over the past 18 months in both formats," Trescothick said, before adding, "I think we’re adding a little more spark and variety from a different coaching perspective." He continued, "Kevin has seen white‑ball cricket across the globe for many years, playing in all the major tournaments and winning the T20 World Cup in 2010.
That experience brings something extra to the table. It will be up to Brendon and the rest of the coaching staff to extract the best from him." Managing a diverse group of players, coaches and support staff is often described as a delicate art. "If you get that right, you reap the benefits for both coaches and players," Trescothick concluded. All England fixtures this summer will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with times listed for the UK and Ireland.
Fans can watch every match of the white‑ball series against Sri Lanka, beginning with the first T20 International on Tuesday. Those without a Sky subscription can explore the latest Sky Sports offers or stream the games contract‑free via NOW.