Photo via BBC Sport

Why Pietersen will add unfiltered challenge that England need - Finn

Steven Finn has backed Kevin Pietersen's surprising appointment as an England team mentor ahead of the upcoming autumn 50-over World Cup in South Africa. The move comes as an unexpected turn given that Pietersen's international career was terminated by the England and Wales Cricket Board at Lord's back in 2014, coupled with his demanding schedule running his YouTube enterprise, The Switch.

Recalling their shared playing days, Finn argued that the dressing room will benefit from Pietersen's direct, uncompromising manner, noting his past frustrations while broadcasting in India last year regarding England's insufficient warm-up preparation. Finn reflected on how the batter's fiercely competitive, confrontational net sessions elevated his own bowling through heated practice duels.

Highlighting Pietersen's forward-thinking approach, Finn remembered his pioneering switch hit, early promotion of the IPL, trademark flamingo flicks, and his famous 2005 Lord's six off Glenn McGrath. Finn also praised the relentless preparation behind the star's talent, describing an instance during the 2012 Sri Lanka tour at Colombo's SSC ground where Pietersen worked alongside Andy Flower for an extra hour against local left-arm spinners.

That rigorous technical rehearsal directly yielded a brilliant 151 against Rangana Herath in the second Test, setting the stage for his pivotal run-scoring in Mumbai that secured a landmark red-ball series triumph in India later that year.