HEADINGLEY — It’s a month since Kevin Pietersen proclaimed on  that it was “certainly game over for the written media”, adding: “Players don’t need journalists anymore.”

So it was a surprise when the former batter turned YouTuber agreed to speak to the written media following England’s dramatic defeat by Sri Lanka in the second one-day international at Headingley on Thursday evening.

Asked to come on board by white-ball coach Brendon McCullum as a “specialist mentor”, Pietersen should be given credit for fronting up. Others who have held similar positions with England in the past – Andrew Flintoff, for example – never bothered.

The suspicion is Pietersen still loves being the centre of attention, just as he did during his brilliant playing career. He just can’t help himself. Players might not need journalists anymore but maybe specialist mentors still do?

What made this all the more bizarre was the fact it was taking place at Headingley, the same venue where 14 years previously he proclaimed during one of the most notorious press conferences in cricketing history: “It’s tough being me playing for England.”

It came after he scored an extraordinary 149 against South Africa amidst rumours it could be his final Test because of a major falling out with the team’s management. “The saddest part is there are spectators out there who love watching me play,” he had said.

Four days later the “textgate” scandal erupted, with Pietersen ostracised after he was found to have sent derogatory messages about then-captain Andrew Strauss to South African players.

Although he did come back after that – being “reintegrated” for the tour of India that followed that 2012 summer – things were never really the same. He never played for England again after the 2013-14 Ashes tour of Australia. Much rancour, rumour and bad blood festered in the years after. Having Piers Morgan as his chief cheerleader on social media didn’t help.

But here we were, after all those years, back face to face with one of the most fascinating characters to have represented England in the modern era.

Asked about all that history, he said: “I’m 46, man. That stuff’s so long gone. I’m a completely different person. I live in the country. I live in South Africa. I love doing what I do. I’m just here to help. I’ve been lucky to have worn every t-shirt an England cricketer can wear – the good, the bad and the ugly. And so there are parts to all of their careers which I think I can potentially help them to stay away from the ugly.”

The cynical – and what else is a room full of journalists? – may be reluctant to take those words at face value.

Yet those of us who covered the team during Pietersen’s time know the poisonous end was only part of his story.

For many years, he was one of the more approachable members of the England squad, always happy to stop for a chat on tour. He came across as decent and polite.

That changed after “textgate”, when he appeared to blame the entire media ecosystem for the furore that followed.

But back at Headingley, the Pietersen of old was back, greeting those of us he knew during his playing days like old friends, with handshakes and smiles all round.

This is good. People can change. And maybe he wasn’t that bad in the first place?

When the news was announced earlier this month that he was coming back to work with England I was suspicious. Maybe I was wrong? Maybe not. But he certainly came across in Leeds as someone who is loving his new role. His passion for the game was evident. “Being back in an England dressing-room is an amazing feeling and an honour,” he said.

There were caveats. This was not a full-time role. “No, it can’t be,” he said. “I’m too busy everywhere else. I’ve got a lot going on in my life. I think it’s important you guys know I’m not full-time. At all.”

There was the odd dig at the media. “What excites me the most? I don’t have to bat. So I don’t have to deal with you lot hammering me. That’s the best thing about this. I have no responsibility listening to and reading your rubbish.”

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There was also the revelation that he is already in contact with new England Test coach Stephen Fleming and he could play some role helping prepare the team for next summer’s Ashes.

“I wouldn’t say no,” he said. “I have had a conversation with Stephen Fleming but I don’t think that necessarily means I need to be in a dressing-room. There’s a lot of time in the lead-up to an Ashes series. There’s a lot of time in the lead-up to the tour of South Africa where I’m going to be with the Test batters in Australia [on a white-ball tour] and there’s conversations that can be had there.

“I’ve certainly had conversations with Flem, who I absolutely love, about language he would like me to use with the Test batters going into South Africa and certainly into the summer next year. But I don’t think I can commit to a lot more time.”

That in itself is a revelation not many of us were expecting. But the fact is after all this time, Pietersen is still compelling listening – whether you like him or not.