Kevin Pietersen has returned to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) as a mentor, working with Brendon McCullum’s white-ball team in preparation for the 2023 Cricket World Cup in South Africa. Pietersen, who was dismissed by the ECB in 2014 during a turbulent chapter in English cricket, expressed surprise at his return and hinted at a possible role in next year’s Ashes series against Australia. Pietersen’s career with England ended in 2014 after a series of controversies, and he spent over a decade largely removed from the team he once played for 277 times across all formats. His most recent public involvement came during England’s tour of India last year, where he was a vocal critic of the team’s training schedule and professionalism. However, an unexpected call from McCullum led to Pietersen accepting a mentoring role, which he described as an opportunity to help the team navigate the “good, the bad, and the ugly” of international cricket. Pietersen was initially surprised when McCullum contacted him, thinking he might be in trouble. After several discussions, he became convinced that the current environment was different from his previous experiences. He praised the players for being “really, really driven” and eager to learn, and he is committed to being “the best guy in the room” for them. His role is not full-time and is balanced with his existing commitments, including his YouTube channel. Pietersen suggested he might be tempted to extend his involvement from white-ball to red-ball cricket. He has already spoken with new Test coach Stephen Fleming about how he might assist the Test batters ahead of the Ashes series and the upcoming tour of South Africa. Pietersen believes his experience with both the highs and lows of international cricket can help current players avoid its “ugly” aspects. He mentioned he has detailed notes on his batting techniques in various formats and could offer guidance to players like Harry Brook, who has been compared to him by Ben Stokes. Pietersen expressed admiration for Brook’s talent, noting how “frightening” it is to see his potential.