Kevin Pietersen’s coaching job with England looks set to remain white-ball-only for now – but he could still have an impact on the team’s Ashes batters, says Rob Key.

Pietersen began a specialist mentor role with Brendon McCullum’s limited-overs outfit during the T20 and ODI series wins over Sri Lanka in September, with that running until the end of the next 50-over World Cup in Africa at the end of 2027.

However, with many of England’s Test batters also key parts of the white-ball set-up, including Joe Root, Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell, men’s managing director of cricket Key says players will inevitably pick Pietersen’s brains about the longest form.

The 46-year-old’s haul of 13,797 international runs included 1,181 in 104 Tests with 23 hundreds and 35 further half-centuries.

The 2027 Ashes begins at Trent Bridge on June 18 next year.

‘There is no one better breaking down batting than KP’

Speaking to Sky Sports News, on the day England announced their central-contract list and some coaching updates, Key said of Pietersen’s position: “At the moment, I think it’s just white-ball cricket but there are a lot of players that are multi-format players.

“Our best players are the best players across formats. That doesn’t mean they haven’t already started talking about Test cricket, talking about batting in general.

“Pietersen has been outstanding. There is no one better breaking down batting, talking technically but more importantly how you score runs.

“KP was one of the best we ever had and one of the best to talk about it, so they are incredibly lucky to have someone like that.

“He is someone who has a lot of options – he could go off and do other things and make a lot more money actually.

“He is doing this job because he wants to give back to English cricket and loves what he’s doing.”

Pietersen will not be with England during this month’s ODI tri-series in the subcontinent, in which McCullum’s men will play Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

He will return for the five T20s and three ODIs in Australia in November.

Any chance of Stokes returning to play for England?

England will lock horns with Australia again in Melbourne in March for the 150th anniversary Test before welcoming their rivals for the Ashes in the summer.

Key does not expect former Test captain Ben Stokes to be involved having retired from international cricket in June but when asked whether any “bridges had been burned, he replied: “Not as far as I am concerned.

“[New Test coach] Stephen Fleming spoke to [Stokes] and he was pretty adamant about the fact he was pretty happy with his decision.

“Only Stokes knows what it was like to play 100-plus Tests and go through the scrutiny of a 10-plus-year career, where he has done so much for English cricket.

“I look back on the last four years and I have loved nearly every minute and I think we just have to respect his decision.”

Watch England’s ODI tri-series in Pakistan live on Sky Sports between October 18 and 31. England’s first game is against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Tuesday October 20 (9am start UK). Latest Sky Sports deals or stream no contract with NOW.