Kevin Pietersen has taken on a new role as a specialist mentor for England's men's white-ball cricket teams.
The appointment was initiated by England white-ball head coach Brendon McCullum, who directly reached out to invite the former international batsman into the squad's dressing room environment.
Pietersen said the call initially caught him off guard.
"I thought I was in trouble," he recalled, before McCullum explained he wanted him to join the dressing room and work over the next 12 months to be competitive in South Africa next year.
The new role follows England's 16-run defeat to Sri Lanka at Headingley, a result that sends the one-day series to a final decider at The Oval on Sunday.
Part-time role and future plans
Pietersen revealed that his mentoring position will be part-time as he balances content creation and family life.
His advisory duties may extend beyond the upcoming 50-over World Cup in South Africa next year.
Discussions have already taken place with incoming Test coach Stephen Fleming and veteran batsman Joe Root ahead of the upcoming home Ashes series.
Pietersen now focuses his mentoring efforts on the squad led by captain Harry Brook, aiming to prepare the side for competitive play over the next twelve months.
