Cricket

Joe Root backs ‘always brilliant’ Pietersen to bring best out of England players

September 9, 2026 · The Guardian

Joe Root has endorsed the unexpected addition of Kevin Pietersen as a specialist mentor for England's limited-overs side, expressing confidence that the 46-year-old will maximize the potential of the current squad. Reflecting on their shared playing days, Root praised Pietersen as consistently outstanding and credited their time together early in his own career with teaching him an immense amount. Root also noted that he is likely the final active international cricketer who shared a dressing room with the former star. Their playing partnership began when a 21-year-old Root earned his initial Test cap at Nagpur in 2012. The duo featured together in a dozen Test matches before Pietersen's sudden omission in 2014, and they also teamed up for nine one-day internationals throughout 2013.

Original source: The Guardian ↗