Joe Root endorses Kevin Pietersen, backs Emilio Gay

Test captain says "honest opinions" welcome ahead of old team-mate's return to white-ball set-up

As far as referees for batting advisors go, Joe Root is up there. And England's greatest run-scorer is buoyed by the acquisition of Kevin Pietersen as a "specialist mentor" for the white-ball teams.

Root first came across Pietersen on England's historic Test tour of India in 2012. A debut in the fifth Test in Nagpur saw the 21-year-old Root register 73 in the first innings, sharing a brief 40-ball stand with Pietersen.

The pair would only feature together 21 times for England - 12 Tests and nine ODIs - prior to Pietersen being unceremoniously dumped by the ECB following the 2013-14 Ashes. Enough time has passed for the 46-year-old to now assist the limited overs set-up helmed by head coach Brendan McCullum and skipper Harry Brook through to next year's ODI World Cup.RelatedWhich Pakistan will turn up at Edgbaston? That's the killer question

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Still an outspoken figure in retirement, there may be trepidation as to how effective Pietersen will be in a guiding role, not least in a set-up he has previously criticised for being lackadaisical in their preparations. The Test captain, who remains part of the ODI side, has no such reservations based on his own experiences. That bluntness can go a long way.

"I think it'll be fine," Root said on the eve of the third and final Pakistan Test at Edgbaston. "You want people to give their honest opinion. Why would you get him involved if you didn't want him to tell you what he thinks? And to give his insight into the game?

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

"I'm probably the last player to have played with him still going. I really enjoyed him as a senior player coming into the team.

"He was someone that I'd be shadowing all the time. That first tour of India in particular, I'd try and buddy up with him in the nets, watch how he practised, watch how he did things, ask him for advice. And he was really open, really honest, very helpful in terms of how to get the best out of my game against spin."

Pietersen is one of several new coaching reinforcements in the offing. Jonathan Trott's handling of the Lions this week hints at a longer-term future as Andrew Flintoff's replacement, while there are further backroom additions mooted once Stephen Fleming officially takes charge of the Test set-up following the conclusion of this series. The Guardian reported last week that Mike Hussey has turned down Fleming's offer of joining his staff as a batting coach.

One lower-profile reunion has been with David Young as performance psychologist, temporarily slotting back in with the Test team for what has been a straightforward series win.Kevin Pietersen and Root played for England at opposite ends of their careers•Getty Images

Having joined the ECB in 2016, Young emerged as a vital cog in England's successful 2019 World Cup. It was here at Edgbaston, ahead of the group game against India, that he, along with skipper Eoin Morgan, organised a team meeting for players to discuss their emotions as their campaign hit stumbling blocks with defeats to Pakistan and Australia.

It proved a vital intervention, referenced by squad members as the moment they acknowledged their collective fears and eventually driving them to the country's first ICC 50-over trophy.

Young moved on from England after the World Cup to join Manchester City FC, where he remains. Much like this series, he had previously returned the England set-up for the 2024 T20 World Cup as a part-time consultant.

"I think it's good for the guys to have that sounding board and someone to speak to about the game," Root said of Young's presence. "Clearly it worked extremely well with us for a long period of time and [was] quite instrumental in that 2019 World Cup."

One of those who will no doubt be leaning on Young is opener Emilio Gay. The 26-year old has regularly sought the help of sports psychologists as part of an impressively thorough training regime. And in a maiden Test summer that has coincided with some of the toughest conditions for batters in generations - batting averages this season are the lowest they have been since 2000 - mental fortitude is a must.

After starting with two half-centuries against New Zealand, Gay has managed 72 runs from three innings against Pakistan. If the ease of England's two wins so far is anything to go by, Gay might only have one innings left to firm up his case ahead of the winter - even though he is averaging more than double (24) his opening partner Ben Duckett (11) this series.

But with Duckett locked as England's opener, the excellence of Jordan Cox at No. 3 may bring an awkward proposition when Jacob Bethell returns from a knee surgery for the winter's opening Test tour of South Africa.

Either Cox or Bethell could be shunted up to open - the former having done so before in first-class cricket - leaving Gay in the lurch. Root dodged questions about any upcoming selection conundrums, and backed Gay to the hilt ahead of his sixth cap.

"He seems great," Root said of Gay. "He's prepared as well as he possibly can. He leaves no stone unturned and... he's in the hardest possible position; you're top of the order, fresh bowlers, new pitch, brand new ball. And it's been really tough work this summer.

"I think he's done really well and the context is a really important part of when you find yourselves in these extremities. I've not got a huge amount of concern. I'm excited for him to get the opportunity to go and hopefully show again the composure that he has, the calm nature in which he starts earnings, and show everyone his ability and his talent."