Silverwood replaces Bayliss as England head coach

Tuesday, 8 October 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

England’s Jofra Archer (right) talks to bowling coach Chris Silverwood during nets

LONDON (Reuters): Chris Silverwood was named England head coach yesterday in place of Trevor Bayliss as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) opted against another overseas candidate to take the team forward.

British media reported last week that former India and South Africa coach Gary Kirsten had emerged as the leading contender, but Silverwood, the team’s former bowling coach, was preferred.

Australian Bayliss departed last month after England’s drawn home Ashes series against Australia having led the team for four years.

They struggled for consistency in tests under his guidance, slipping to fourth in the world rankings, but enjoyed sustained success in one-day cricket, rising to the top of the rankings and winning their first 50-over World Cup title this year on home soil.

The 44-year-old Silverwood played six tests and seven one-day internationals for England as a fast bowler during his playing career, the majority of which was spent with his native county Yorkshire.

He moved into coaching and in 2017 led Essex to their first County Championship title for 25 years before becoming England pace bowling coach.

“Chris was the standout candidate,” England director of cricket Ashley Giles said in a statement.

“He is what we need to take our international teams forward. He’s somebody we know well, but it is his intimate understanding of our structures and systems and his close relationships with test captain Joe Root and white-ball captain Eoin Morgan that will help us develop our plans for the next few years,” Giles added.

“He has performed exceptionally well during his role as an assistant coach and has the ultimate respect of the players’ that have worked with him.”

Silverwood’s first assignment will be England’s tour of New Zealand on which they play five Twenty20 internationals starting on 1 November and two tests, before they travel to South Africa. “I’m excited to get started and build teams that the whole game can be proud of,” Silverwood said.

“There is a tremendous amount of talent coming through, and enormous potential for growth. The hard work starts now, and I’m confident we can make a positive impact during our winter tours of New Zealand and South Africa.”

Former England captain Nasser Hussain said Silverwood was a safe pair of hands, but that the job represented a big step up for him.

“There is a massive difference between being a friendly bowling coach and being the main man, picking and choosing your time to get hard and tough with the players, especially in the test arena. That will be a challenge,” Hussain told Sky Sports.

“At the moment he is popular but if he wants to do a good job he might have to upset a few people.”