England's white‑ball head coach Brendon McCullin has openly invited former England star Kevin Pietersen to push him and the squad out of their comfort zones. The New Zealander, who took over the limited‑overs side last year, said he deliberately added Pietersen to his staff because he values the former batsman's outspoken nature and wants the "big personality" to rub off on the players.
Pietersen, now 46, will be attached to England’s white‑ball programme through to the 2027 Cricket World Cup. His duties begin with the three‑match T20 series and the subsequent one‑day internationals against Sri Lanka later this month. During his playing career Pietersen amassed close to 14,000 runs across Tests, ODIs and T20Is between 2004 and 2014, and his reputation for candid criticism has been well documented.
He famously accused England of insufficient preparation after a disappointing white‑ball tour of India in 2025, when the side lost both the ODI and T20I series. Speaking ahead of the opening T20 at Southampton, McCullin explained that inviting Pietersen was his own decision and that he welcomed any constructive criticism. "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," McCullin recalled. "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." The coach stressed that Pietersen’s perspective on the game differs from most, and that fresh eyes can highlight blind spots.
"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 area of expertise.
"I want him to look across the set‑up and challenge me privately on ways we can improve and do things differently," McCullin explained. McCullin praised Pietersen’s playing pedigree, noting that many current England players grew up idolising him.
"He is one of those guys who has so much in his life, so 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," the coach said. He described Pietersen as a relentless competitor who left no stone unturned in preparation, and whose confidence in big moments often translated into match‑winning performances. "He is a big personality and fiercely competitive.
Those are attributes we would love to rub off onto our players," McCullin added. Since joining the camp, Pietersen has injected a noticeable boost of energy.
McCullin observed that his work ethic is "second to none" and that when Pietersen commits to a task, he is "all in." The coach concluded, "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 been challenged enough, McCullin dismissed the notion, saying the staff constantly push each other. "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," he said. The possibility of Pietersen moving into a Test‑team role was not addressed directly.
McCullin said any such decision would be up to the incoming red‑ball coach Stephen Fleming, who succeeded him as England’s Test boss in August. Fleming, also a New Zealander, will take charge of a three‑Test series in South Africa over the Christmas period and has already arrived in England for a brief visit to meet captain Joe Root and discuss plans with the county coaches. Pietersen will join McCullin for the third and final T20 against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford, where the pair will discuss how to manage England’s multi‑format stars moving forward. The 2027 50‑over World Cup, slated for a few months after England hopes to win an Ashes series for the first time in over a decade, will feature key performers such as Harry Brook, Joe Root, Jofra Archer and Jacob Bethell.
McCullin highlighted the packed schedule ahead, noting the need to balance player workloads 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 arrival, describing him as a brilliant coach and tactician who will complement 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, McCullin confirmed that discussions are underway regarding the future role of assistant coach Marcus Trescothick within the broader coaching structure. Fans can watch England’s white‑ball matches against Sri Lanka live on Sky Sports, with the first T20 kicking off at 6 pm (first ball at 6.30 pm) on Tuesday.
All times are UK and Ireland.