Rationality of retaining Silverwood with vital three-test tour of England ahead

Sri Lanka Head Coach Chris Silverwood gives the team a pep talk 

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

It has become a common trend with countries that at the end of an ICC World Cup event the Head Coach’s head is on the block because the team he handles has not performed to expectations.

Why such decisions are taken mainly at the end of World Cup events defies logic. Is the World Cup the only tournament that is used as a yardstick to judge the coach’s contribution to the team and his performance? What about the victories the team has achieved leading to the World Cup.

What we are talking about right now is white ball cricket.

True, Sri Lanka failed to make it to the semi-finals of the Cricket World Cup in India last year and now, failed to qualify for a place in the Super 8s of the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA.

But in red ball cricket Sri Lanka has made vast strides under Silverwood and currently stand fourth in the ICC World Test Championship behind India, Australia and New Zealand. Sri Lanka has an important three-test tour of England coming up in August. It is a series vital to Sri Lanka if they are to progress further in the World Test Championship standings and try and qualify for the final by making it to the top two positions.

In that aspect, it is imperative that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) gives deep thought to what lies ahead of them and retain Silverwood for the England test series where his contributions can be priceless. Being a former England cricketer and Coach, Silverwood could give invaluable inputs into the England team, the conditions and pitches Sri Lanka are likely to encounter during the tour.

It doesn’t end with England. Soon after the series is over, Sri Lanka will have New Zealand at their doorstep for two more tests and then travel to South Africa for a further two tests – all of them part of the ICC World Test Championship.

Sri Lanka’s international tours are so jam-packed that it leaves hardly any room to make radical changes to the coaching set up of the team.

Silverwood’s two-year contract with Sri Lanka Cricket ended in April 2024, but was extended till the end of July encompassing the home white ball series against India (3 ODIs and 3 T20Is). His contract will come up for review before Sri Lanka leaves for England. Sri Lanka Cricket should ensure that saner counsel prevails before decisions of this nature are taken.