Jump to contentAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleJames Anderson admitted he was surprised to see Pietersen back in the England setup (Getty)Kevin Pietersen has been appointed as a specialist mentor for England's white-ball cricket teams, beginning with the upcoming series against Sri Lanka and running until next autumn's Cricket World Cup in southern Africa. England white-ball head coach Brendon McCullum drove the decision to bring Pietersen on board, praising his immense achievements and his unique understanding of what it takes to excel at the highest level. Former England captain Michael Vaughan expressed concern regarding the dynamics of the coaching staff, warning on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Cricket Show that adding Pietersen creates a set-up full of big egos alongside McCullum, Stephen Fleming, and Marcus Trescothick. Despite his reservations about potential friction, Vaughan praised Pietersen as an ultra-professional and passionate player whose exceptional knowledge will undoubtedly benefit the squad. England bowling icon James Anderson admitted he was surprised by the appointment but believes Pietersen's fearlessness, work ethic, and big-game mentality will rub off positively on the current players. In fullMichael Vaughan highlights ‘issue’ with England hiring Kevin PietersenMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

Pietersen has had a strained relationship with the English cricket establishment over the years but has been appointed as a specialist mentor to the white-ball teams by head coach…

Kevin Pietersen is back with England 12 years after his final game, joining Brendon McCullum's white-ball setup as specialist mentor for the 2027 ODI World Cup. | Cricket

The return marks Pietersen’s first England role since his controversial 2014 exit

Vaughan captained Pietersen at the start of his international career.