The China Mail - Root wants Pietersen to pull no punches on England return

Test captain Root is the last remaining link to the England side whitewashed 5-0 during the 2013/14 Ashes in Australia, with Pietersen -- himself a former England skipper -- effectively sent into international exile after that series following several fall-outs with fellow players and team management.

But on Monday, the 46-year-old Pietersen -- one of the most talented batsmen of his generation -- was announced as a "specialist mentor" in England's limited-overs coaching team in the run-up to next year's 50-over World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Pietersen, who since the end of his playing days has become a forthright pundit, criticised England's approach to training during their white-ball tour of India last year.

But Root, also still a key batsman in England's one-day international team, believes the side will benefit from Pietersen's direct approach.

"I think it'll be fine," Root told a pre-match press conference on the eve of England's bid for a series whitewash in the third and final Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston.

"You want people to give their honest opinion. Why would you get him (Pietersen) involved if you didn't want him to tell you what he thinks and to give his insight into the game?

"The world is a very different place to what it was in 2014, and the England team is in a very different place to that as well. The group of players are very fortunate to get the chance to tap into his knowledge and experience.

"He's got a very good understanding of batting, in particular, and he's got a huge amount of energy. I think he'll be great for the group and I'm really looking forward to working with him."

- 'Batting buddy' -

While Pietersen was a divisive personality during his time as a cricketer, there were few doubts about the talent that made the South Africa-born shotmaker one of England's greatest batsmen.

He scored over 8,000 runs in 104 Tests, including 23 hundreds, at an average of over 47, with Pietersen also named player of the tournament in England's 2010 T20 World Cup triumph -- their first major global limited-overs success.

Pietersen was also Root's partner in the middle when the now 35-year-old first walked out to bat for England in a Test against India in Nagpur in December 2012.

"I learnt a huge amount from him," said Root. "He was someone I'd be shadowing all the time. That first tour of India, in particular, I would try and buddy up with him in the nets.

"He was really open, really honest, very helpful in terms of how to get the best out of my game against spin.

"If he can offer that kind of stuff in a coaching capacity as he did as a senior player, then I think it's really going to benefit us as a group."

I.Ko--ThChM