Joe Root supports appointment of Kevin Pietersen as white-ball mentor
5 sources • 2 min read • Latest: Sep 8, 2026, 10:26 PM
Last updated Sep 8, 2026
England Test captain Joe Root has expressed support for the appointment of Kevin Pietersen as a specialist mentor for the white-ball squad. Pietersen, who was dismissed from the international setup in 2014, will join the coaching staff led by Brendon McCullum ahead of the 2027 World Cup in South Africa. Root, who remains the only active England player to have featured in the same team as Pietersen, described the former batter as a supportive mentor during the early stages of his own career. He noted that the current England environment is significantly different from the conditions present during his previous time with the team. Pietersen is scheduled to begin his duties during the upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka. Root is currently preparing to lead England in the third and final Test match against Pakistan, which is set to begin on Wednesday.
- •Kevin Pietersen joins the England white-ball coaching staff as a mentor.
- •Joe Root played alongside Pietersen in 12 Tests and nine one-day internationals.
- •The appointment precedes the white-ball series against Sri Lanka scheduled for next week.
- •Joe Root will captain England in the third Test match against Pakistan on Wednesday.
- 10:26 PMYahoo Sports — 'It's really going to benefit us': Joe Root weighs in as Kevin Pietersen returns to England setup
- 3:27 PMESPNcricinfo — Joe Root endorses Kevin Pietersen, backs Emilio Gay
- 2:44 PMYahoo Sports — England different from when Pietersen left - Root
- 2:18 PMBBC Sport — England different from when Pietersen left - Root
- 2:12 PMThe Guardian Sport — Joe Root backs ‘always brilliant’ Pietersen to bring best out of England players
"Captain says he learned ‘huge amount’ from new mentor ‘I’m probably last to have played with him still going’ Joe Root has backed Kevin Pietersen to bring the best out of England’s players after the 46-year-old’s surprise appointment as a specialist mentor to the white-ball squad, saying he was “always brilliant” when the two played together towards the start of Root’s international career, a period in which he learned “a huge amount”. Pietersen was in the team when Root made his Test debut as a 21-year-old in Nagpur in 2012, and the pair played alongside each other in 12 Tests in all before Pietersen was abruptly dropped in 2014. They also combined in nine ODIs, all in 2013. Continue reading...
"Joe Root looks forward to teaming up with Kevin Pietersen, who will step into a new role as a specialist mentor for England's white-ball teams. Having benefitted from Pietersen's insights in the past, particularly in handling spin bowling, Root believes this partnership will substantially enhance the current squad's performance as they pursue a series advantage in the upcoming third Test match.
"Joe Root says the England team is "very different" to the one Kevin Pietersen was sacked from in 2014, after the former batter joined the coaching staff of the white-ball side.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsSep 8, 2026, 10:26 PM'It's really going to benefit us': Joe Root weighs in as Kevin Pietersen returns to England setup
Joe Root looks forward to teaming up with Kevin Pietersen, who will step into a new role as a specialist mentor for England's white-ball teams. Having benefitted from Pietersen's insights in the past, particularly in handling spin bowling, Root believes this partnership will substantially enhance the current squad's performance as they pursue a series advantage in the upcoming third Test match.
- ESPNcricinfoSep 8, 2026, 3:27 PMJoe Root endorses Kevin Pietersen, backs Emilio Gay
Test captain says "honest opinions" welcome ahead of old team-mate's return to white-ball set-up
- Yahoo SportsSep 8, 2026, 2:44 PMEngland different from when Pietersen left - Root
Joe Root says the England team is "very different" to the one Kevin Pietersen was sacked from in 2014, after the former batter joined the coaching staff of the white-ball side.
- BBC SportSep 8, 2026, 2:18 PMEngland different from when Pietersen left - Root
Joe Root says the England team is "very different" to the one Kevin Pietersen was sacked from in 2014, after the former batter joined the coaching staff of the white-ball side.
- The Guardian SportSep 8, 2026, 2:12 PMJoe Root backs ‘always brilliant’ Pietersen to bring best out of England players
Captain says he learned ‘huge amount’ from new mentor ‘I’m probably last to have played with him still going’ Joe Root has backed Kevin Pietersen to bring the best out of England’s players after the 46-year-old’s surprise appointment as a specialist mentor to the white-ball squad, saying he was “always brilliant” when the two played together towards the start of Root’s international career, a period in which he learned “a huge amount”. Pietersen was in the team when Root made his Test debut as a 21-year-old in Nagpur in 2012, and the pair played alongside each other in 12 Tests in all before Pietersen was abruptly dropped in 2014. They also combined in nine ODIs, all in 2013. Continue reading...
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