Kevin Pietersen, once sacked by the ECB in 2014, now returns as a specialist mentor for England’s cricket team. The former batter, now 46, says past animosity is long gone and he is focused on helping Brendon McCullum and players improve. Pietersen, who lives in South Africa, was a controversial figure but now works with the team ahead of the Ashes.

He is helping with batting sessions, including drills with Joe Root and Rehan Ahmed. Pietersen emphasizes he isn’t seeking the head coach role but wants to mentor players, many of whom idolized him. He notes he has detailed notes on batting techniques across formats.

When asked about Ben Stokes comparing Harry Brook to him, Pietersen says he can help Brook with situational play, despite occasional reckless shots in his own career.