Joe Root backs Kevin Pietersen as England white-ball mentor ahead of 2027 World Cup

England captain Joe Root has endorsed Kevin Pietersen's appointment as specialist mentor to the white-ball squad, according to reporting from BBC Sport and the Guardian Sport on September 8. Root, 31, is the only remaining England Test player to have been in the same team as Pietersen before the latter's controversial 2014 exit. Pietersen, 46, was announced as a mentor to Brendon McCullum's staff for the white-ball series against Sri Lanka next week, ahead of the 2027 World Cup in South Africa. The appointment marks Pietersen's return to an official England role nearly a decade after he was dropped and subsequently barred from international cricket. Root told the Guardian Sport: 'He was always brilliant in terms of offering up all his thoughts, all his advice. I learned a huge amount from him.' Root added that as a senior player, Pietersen 'didn't need to offer as much as he did to me, but he would sit there and work tirelessly, making sure I felt comfortable with my own game.' Root and Pietersen played together in 12 Tests before Pietersen's 2014 drop, and nine ODIs, all in 2013, per the Guardian's reporting. Pietersen's path back to England has been lengthy. In summer 2012, he was dropped after sending messages critical of England players and coaches to members of the South Africa squad, according to Guardian Sport reporting. In 2015, with Strauss serving as England director of cricket, Pietersen was informed he would not be recalled due to a 'trust issue,' per BBC Sport's reporting. Pietersen is due to be involved with England until the end of next year, according to the Guardian Sport. He is scheduled to attend the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Berlin before reporting to the team later this month. The bear case centers on whether Pietersen's controversial history can coexist with an advisory role. The Guardian Sport described the appointment as 'a bit of a risk,' noting Pietersen 'could often be a divisive figure' during his playing career and 'could divide opinion: some have always sung his praises, while others might not enjoy his company so much.' The publication also warned that Pietersen 'will have to tread a bit more carefully' as a mentor, noting that 'language is so powerful to players, and Pietersen will need to show a mastery of nuance that he might be unused to,' raising questions about whether his punditry style translates to effective coaching. Additionally, Pietersen has been outspoken in his criticism of McCullum's approach to Test cricket, per Guardian Sport reporting.