Pietersen promises to challenge McCullum in England team — Sky Sports News

England cricket team's new specialist mentor Kevin Pietersen said he would challenge the team's white-ball head coach Brendon McCullum. According to him, this was precisely McCullum's request when he invited him to join the team's staff. Sky Sports News reports.

Work until the World Cup

Pietersen began his work with the national team with England's 3-0 victory over Sri Lanka in the T20 series. England subsequently also won the one-day series against the same team, 2-1, concluding it with a 223-run victory at The Oval. The mentor will work with the team until the 2027 50-over World Cup.

The former England player, who ended his career in 2018, had previously criticised the team's preparation. In particular, he said the national team had been insufficiently prepared during the January tour of India, which took place shortly after McCullum began his work. Pietersen has now stressed that his task is to help players become the best versions of themselves, while noting the considerable talent in the squad.

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McCullum's goal

McCullum said he wants to make England the world's best white-ball cricket team. The T20 side has won 22 of 25 completed international matches since the start of last summer and is ranked first in the world. England's one-day team, by contrast, is in sixth place.

The coach also highly praised England's white-ball captain Harry Brook, calling him a strong tactician and leader. In the series against Sri Lanka, Brook scored two half-centuries in one-day matches, while in the first T20 game he made 100 runs from 42 balls — the joint second-fastest result in England's history.