Pietersen starts his new job the day England open their T20I series against Sri Lanka. The 12-month deal, announced by the ECB on 7 September, runs through the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. He will travel with the squad to Australia and South Africa during the winter, then rejoin for the home series against Pakistan and New Zealand next summer.

The last time he sat down with the ECB in an official capacity was in 2014, in an office at Lord’s, being told his England career was over.

“Putting on the England uniform again for the first time since 2014 is a profound honor and a deeply special moment,” Pietersen said in a statement released with the appointment.

McCullum makes the call

Brendon McCullum, England’s white-ball head coach, rang Pietersen personally, aware that he was inviting into the dressing room a man who had spent the previous months openly picking apart his coaching.

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“I rang Kev and said, do you want to come and help us challenge for a World Cup? He said, I was just criticising you a lot, not long ago. I said, I don’t care about that,” McCullum told reporters.

“I feel very privileged for us to be able to have him as a resource within our dressing room. He was obviously a brilliant cricketer. He viewed the game quite differently. He was a winner and he was a guy who left no stone unturned when it came to his preparation.”

Finn backs the ‘directness’

Former England fast bowler Steven Finn, writing as a BBC Sport columnist on Tuesday, argued that Pietersen’s bluntness is precisely the ingredient the current group has been missing.

“There’s a certain directness that Kevin brings, and I think that’s something that can be incredibly valuable,” Finn wrote.

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“Pietersen has that innate ability to ask the tough questions and to push people outside their comfort zones, which can ultimately lead to growth.”

The powder-keg case

Not everyone is convinced. South African outlet Magic 828 branded the appointment “a masterstroke or powder keg waiting to explode”, pointing out that Pietersen only recently used his social-media platform to attack the same coaching group he is now joining.

During England’s tour of India, Pietersen posted:

“I’m sorry, but I am absolutely gobsmacked that England did not have ONE team practice session since losing the 1st ODI and losing the T20 series.”

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McCullum was asked about that record of criticism.

“Some of it’s fair and some of it would need some explanation, but I have no problem with that. I think it’s healthy when you create an environment where you’re able to challenge, as long as you’re always trying to think of what’s right for the team,” McCullum said.

The setup Pietersen walks into

The white-ball coaching group Pietersen joins is McCullum’s, working alongside assistant coaches Marcus Trescothick and Jeetan Patel and fast-bowling consultant Tim Southee. Stephen Fleming, who took over the Test side from McCullum in July, is a separate operation.

The first T20I against Sri Lanka is on Tuesday. Pietersen will be in the dressing room when the players walk out.

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