Pietersen has joined the limited-overs coaching setup ahead of England's series against Sri Lanka and brings high-profile international experience to a team recalibrating its disciplinary expectations following the omission of pace bowler Brydon Carse.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhen I rang him the first time and said, \u2018Would you be interested in working with England?\u2019 I think he thought I was joking. He mentioned, \u2018I\u2019ve been quite critical of you guys in the past\u2019 and I said \u2018I have no problem with that, mate\u2019. There are parts of it I agree with, and parts which I won\u2019t agree with, and that\u2019s fine. That\u2019s the beauty of Kev coming in.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI want him to look across the environment and challenge me privately around ways we can improve or things we can do differently. Having someone that has a different take on things is no bad thing. Kev will do that, and I\u2019ve encouraged him to do that as well. Our relationship is good; it\u2019s full of respect,\u201d McCullum told reporters on Monday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He also confirmed that Pietersen immediately reinforced the squad's need for maintaining professional discipline during his first dressing-room address. \u201cKev mentioned it in the dressing room earlier, as well.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cHe said we need to give ourselves every opportunity to try and get to the level and get to the achievements that we want to \u2013 and that includes a lot of the responsibilities that we make socially and off the field too.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The tightening of off-field standards comes alongside Carse\u2019s ongoing exclusion across all formats following an arrest outside a Derby nightclub last month. McCullum warned that spots in the national team would depend on players maintaining professional standards off the pitch.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI hope it\u2019s crystal clear what is expected, not just of this group, but of those who have got aspirations to play for us. We want to play a style of cricket that comes with responsibilities. That\u2019s just life living in the fast lane of international cricket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThere is a lot of talent around; if you\u2019re not prepared to do that, there are other guys who will be given those opportunities. I\u2019ve spoken to Carsey a lot, and it\u2019s the same message.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cYou need to make good decisions off the field that allow you to be able to be the best version of yourself. As far as Carsey is concerned, it\u2019s a good chance for him now to get his house in order and then push for selection for the next opportunity that arises.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThere is a lot of talent around; if you\u2019re not prepared to do that, there are other guys who will be given those opportunities. I\u2019ve spoken to Carsey a lot, and it\u2019s the same message.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cFlem and I will catch up in the coming days, and we\u2019ll start trying to piece all that together. We\u2019ll have to work through that. He\u2019s one of my best mates. I think it\u2019s a great opportunity for him and the timing is perfect. There\u2019s a bit to unpick, but we\u2019ll get there and look forward to doing it with Flem. It\u2019ll be good fun working through it together,\u201d concluded McCullum. <\/p>\r\n\r\n