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England appointed former Ashes-winning batter Kevin Pietersen to their white-ball coaching staff under Brendon McCullum, as part of preparations for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup. The move has generated discussion about the dynamic between Pietersen and the current setup, given his acrimonious departure from the England set-up in 2014. Current England batter Joe Root responded to the appointment, saying the team is now "very different" from the one Pietersen was dropped from over a decade ago, suggesting the current squad culture and environment have moved on significantly since that period.