England coach Brendon Mc Cullum says he wants Kevin Pietersen to "challenge" him as the team's new white-ball mentor and has "no problem" with Pietersen's past criticisms. Pietersen, 46, will work with England through the 2027 World Cup, starting with the Sri Lanka series. Mc Cullum revealed he personally recruited Pietersen, telling reporters: "When I rang him and asked whether he would be interested...

I think he thought I was joking for a start!" Pietersen previously accused England of poor preparation during their 2025 India tour. Mc Cullum dismissed concerns, stating: "There are parts I might agree with and parts I might not agree with and that's fine." He wants Pietersen to "look across the set-up and challenge me privately on ways we can improve." Mc Cullum praised Pietersen's "incredible pedigree," noting many current players idolized him. "He is a big personality and fiercely competitive... attributes we would love to rub off onto our players." The coach added Pietersen has brought "a ton of energy" and "work ethic is second to none." England face Sri Lanka in the opening T20 at Southampton, live on Sky Sports.