Joe Root has expressed strong confidence in Kevin Pietersen's appointment as a specialist mentor to England's white-ball squad, describing the former batsman as "always brilliant" during their time playing together and crediting him with teaching valuable lessons that shaped his own international career.
Pietersen's return to the England setup marks a significant moment for the cricketer, who departed the international scene under controversial circumstances in 2014. According to reports from the announcement on 2 September 2026, the appointment represents his first official involvement with the national team in over 12 years. His role is scheduled to commence later in September during England's six-match white-ball series against Sri Lanka, which will comprise three Twenty20 Internationals and three One-Day Internationals.
Root was among the final generation of England players to share the dressing room with Pietersen during his international playing days. The pair featured together in 12 Test matches, with Pietersen present when Root made his Test debut as a 21-year-old in Nagpur during 2012. They also combined in nine One-Day Internationals, all of which took place in 2013, before Pietersen's abrupt departure from the squad in 2014.
I'm probably the last player to have played with him still going, Root reflected on his unique position among current England cricketers.
I really enjoyed him as a senior player, coming into the team. He was someone I'd be shadowing all the time. That first tour of India in particular, I would try to buddy up with him in the nets, watch how he practiced, watch how he did things, ask for advice. He was really open, really honest, very helpful. And if he can offer that kind of stuff in a coaching capacity as he did as a senior player, I think it's really going to benefit us as a group.
What technical skills did Pietersen teach Root?
Root identified several core batting principles that Pietersen imparted during their early years together, particularly during England's tours of challenging subcontinental and Australian conditions.
More than anything [he taught me] the importance of footwork, the ability to hit the ball against the spin, with the spin, understanding how that worked, the positions you might want to get yourself into, the ability to manipulate the field and manoeuvre the ball.Root emphasised that rapid learning was essential in such demanding environments.
You have to learn very quickly in those environments when they're as extreme as they can be in India, and that was really beneficial. It was similar when we went to Australia, trying to get an understanding of how to play on those surfaces. He was always brilliant in terms of offering up all his thoughts, all his advice. I learned a huge amount from him.
Why is Pietersen's appointment significant despite his controversial history?
Pietersen's relationship with the England setup has been complicated by his departure in 2012, when he was temporarily removed from the squad after sending critical messages about England players and coaches to members of the South Africa squad. His subsequent career in media commentary has maintained his reputation for forthright and sometimes provocative analysis, yet Root sees no contradiction between Pietersen's outspoken nature and his value as a mentor.
You want people to give their honest opinion, Root stated.
Why would you get him involved if you didn't want him to tell you what he thinks and give his insight of the game. He's very knowledgeable, he's got a very good understanding of batting in particular and he's got a huge amount of energy. I think he's going to be great for the group.
The England and Wales Cricket Board has highlighted a strategic dimension to the appointment. The ECB stated that Pietersen's South African upbringing provides knowledge particularly valuable for the ODI team ahead of the 2027 World Cup, which will be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. This geographical advantage complements his extensive experience in international cricket and his more recent involvement in domestic Twenty20 leagues.
What is Pietersen's recent coaching background?
Before his appointment with England, Pietersen has maintained involvement in professional cricket through mentoring roles in franchise cricket. His experience includes working with the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League, providing him with current exposure to elite-level white-ball cricket and modern playing conditions.
How does this fit into England's broader coaching structure?
Pietersen's role as a specialist mentor sits within a broader England coaching setup that includes Brendon McCullum, Marcus Trescothick, Tim Southee, Jeetan Patel and Sarah Taylor among the coaching personnel involved with the national teams during this period.
What are England's immediate priorities in the Pakistan series?
With the third and final Test against Pakistan commencing at Edgbaston on Wednesday, Root identified preparation against unfamiliar opposition as his primary concern.
Making sure we're ready for what they're going to hit us withremains the focus, particularly given that seven players have joined the touring squad since the second Test at Lord's, with four possessing no previous international experience.
The lack of detailed information on some opponents presents a practical challenge.
Sometimes the hardest thing is not having a huge amount of information, but you've got to play what's in front of you, Root explained. He drew perspective from cricket history, noting that
You go back 50 or 60 years, they didn't have video footage then and the guys still found a way of figuring it out and understanding how they were going to take their wickets or score their runs. It's part of the game, sometimes you don't have all of that information to work from, you don't have that luxury, but it doesn't mean that you can't go and deliver.
How does Pakistan view the series with new call-ups?
Pakistan captain Babar Azam acknowledged surprise at the call-ups made by his own board.
It was news for me as well, he said, before adding that the Pakistan Board's decisions
must have been made with some thought, it would be better if you ask them. Despite the series already being decided in England's favour, Azam framed the final Test as an opportunity for his team to express themselves without pressure.
It's an opportunity for us. We have lost the series, now there is nothing to lose. We can play with freedom. We have faith in the team. We've been practicing for a couple of days, we've talked to each other a lot. Whenever young players come in, you can feel the excitement. Hopefully you will see better things in this match.
What happens next for Pietersen and England?
Pietersen is scheduled to join England for the Sri Lanka white-ball series later in September 2026. His involvement is expected to extend through England's winter tours to Australia and South Africa, and continue in subsequent home series as the team prepares for the 2027 World Cup in southern Africa.
