‘He thought I was joking’: Brendon McCullum reveals dramatic phone call that brought Kevin Pietersen back
Brendon McCullum and Kevin Pietersen Kevin Pietersen’s return to the England set-up has Brendon McCullum at the heart of the decision, with the white-ball head coach revealing the idea of bringing in the former England batsman as a mentor was his own.The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed last week that Pietersen will join the coaching group for ODI and T20I duties leading up to the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.Pietersen’s appointment immediately raised eyebrows given his outspoken criticism of McCullum and England’s preparations in the past. In 2025, he questioned the team’s readiness for the ODI series against India ahead of the Champions Trophy and was particularly critical of the way the side approached the assignment.But McCullum insists there is no lingering tension between the pair. Speaking ahead of England’s first T20I against Sri Lanka on Monday, he explained that Pietersen’s previous criticism was never an obstacle to bringing him into the set-up.
‘I don’t have a problem with that’
McCullum said he approached Pietersen directly about the role and was initially met with disbelief.“The first time I called him I said, ‘Would you be interested in working with England?’ To begin with, he thought I was joking. And then he kind of mentioned that I’ve been quite critical of you in the past. I said, I don’t have a problem with that, man. There are parts I agree with and parts I won’t agree with. And that’s good. This is where the beauty of Kev comes in. He obviously has incredible pedigree as a player. A lot of our boys grew up watching and idolizing Kev when he was also in his prime as a player,” McCullum told reporters ahead of the 1st T20I against Sri Lanka on Monday.According to McCullum, Pietersen has impressed since joining the group. Rather than limiting his contribution to one area, the England coach wants the former batsman to assess the wider landscape and challenge existing thinking.“He’s already brought a lot of energy to the setup in the last 24 hours. I mentioned to him that I don’t want him to just try and be buried in one particular skill set. I want him to look at the whole environment and the setup and challenge me privately on how we can improve or what we can do differently. Our relationship is good,” he added.
McCullum confirms that Pietersen was his idea
McCullum also emphasized that their relationship is built on mutual respect, despite their opposing views in the past.“It’s full of respect. We play against each other and we’ve enjoyed spending time together over the last minute or two. I’m super excited to have him. I know he’s super excited to be here. The guys are buzzing and I’m delighted to add such a strong resource to my very, very strong coaching staff,” McCullum said.When asked directly if Pietersen’s appointment came from him, McCullum gave a direct answer.“Yes, it was my idea.For McCullum, Pietersen’s willingness to commit fully to the task and his ability to offer an alternative perspective are among the qualities that make him valuable to the England set-up.“Obviously the work ethic has been second to none throughout his career. When he puts his mind to something, he’s into it. I also think sometimes having someone who has a different perspective on things isn’t a bad thing,” McCullum said.Pietersen is also familiar with the role of mentor, having previously worked in a similar capacity with Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League. Now his experience will be at England’s disposal throughout the white-ball campaign leading up to the World Cup.