Kevin Pietersen hints at Ashes role as he opens up on shock England return

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Kevin Pietersen believes his unexpected return to the England setup can assist the team through “the good, the bad and the ugly” of international cricket, while opening the door to involvement in next year’s Ashes.

Over a decade has passed since Pietersen’s international playing career drew to an acrimonious conclusion in 2014, leaving him largely isolated from an environment where he featured 277 times across all formats.

His involvement with the side had recently been confined to external commentary, notably during last year’s tour of India when he publicly questioned the squad’s work ethic and training schedule.

However, an unexpected approach from limited-overs head coach Brendon McCullum resulted in a new advisory role designed to shape England’s World Cup campaign in South Africa next winter.

Spending time alongside the squad throughout their ongoing series against Sri Lanka has already reshaped his previous concerns.

Reflecting on that initial contact from McCullum, he said: “I thought I was in trouble. What have I done now? Why is he calling me?

“We talked about how critical I had been of the setup. It took a couple of weeks of conversations with him to be able to convince me that it was something that I wanted to do because the perception wasn’t actually the reality that I now know, about what is in that dressing room. These guys are really, really driven.

“It’s amazing to be back in an England dressing room and it’s amazing to be back with these guys. They are very, very eager to learn. They want to be the best versions of themselves.”

Having long since retired and moved past the internal friction that featured during his playing career, Pietersen feels ready to offer support.

“I’m 46, man. That stuff’s so long gone. I’m a completely different person too,” he said.

“I’ve been lucky to have worn every t-shirt an England cricketer can wear; the good, the bad, and the ugly. There are parts to all of their careers, which I think that I could potentially help them to stay away from the ugly.

“I’m in the two ears, one mouth phase. I listen twice as much as I talk. I’ve seen a lot, I’ve done a lot, and I want to be the best guy in the room for these guys,

“(McCullum) loves being challenged on different opinions. Whether he uses it or not, that’s up to him. He is the head coach. I’m not sitting here wanting to be the coach of England. He’s the coach of England. If I can help him, in his journey, in his pursuit, in our pursuit, to be competitive next year then it’s a win.”

Pietersen clarified that his position is part-time, balanced around existing commitments including his YouTube channel, but suggested his focus could expand from white to red-ball cricket.

Having announced himself during the 2005 Ashes campaign before making his final international appearance in a 5-0 defeat in Australia nine years later, he has not ruled out aiding new Test coach Stephen Fleming ahead of next year’s flagship series.

“I’ve got a pretty mad schedule, (but) I wouldn’t say no,” he added.

“I have had a conversation with Stephen, but I don’t think that necessarily means that I need to be in a dressing room. There’s a lot of time in the lead up to an Ashes series. There’s a lot of time in the lead up to the tour of South Africa, where I’m going to be with the Test players, the Test batters in Australia, and there’s conversations that can be had there.

“I’ve certainly had conversations with Flem, who I absolutely love, about language that he would like me to use with the Test batters, going into South Africa, and then certainly into the summer next year. I just don’t think I can commit to a lot more time.”