NEW APPOINTMENT

Chris Silverwood confirmed as England's fast-bowling coach

by Rob Johnston • Last updated on

"His record at Essex shows his capabilities as a outstanding bowling coach but also we will benefit from his experience in all areas of the game," Andrew Strauss said. © Getty

Chris Silverwood, the coach who led Essex to an improbable County Championship last season, has been appointed as England's new fast-bowling coach, the ECB confirmed on Wednesday (November 1). His official start date will be decided once final terms have been agreed with Essex but it is likely that Silverwood will begin early next year on the limited overs part of the tour to Australia.

Silverwood was always one of the leading candidates for the role following the departure of Ottis Gibson at the end of the summer to become head coach of South Africa. Silverwood spent time with England's one-day squad during the series against Windies in September and his success at Essex, who he joined as second XI coach in 2010, in the last two seasons, securing promotion to Division One in 2016 and then winning the title this year, was a key factor in his appointment.

"We're delighted to have Chris on board as part of our England coaching staff," Andrew Strauss, Director of England Cricket said. "His record at Essex shows his capabilities as a outstanding bowling coach but also we will benefit from his experience in all areas of the game.

"He has also made a significant contribution to our International Pathway in the last few years, both on the Pace Programme and more recently with the Lions, as assistant coach to Andy Flower in Sri Lanka last winter. That means he has worked with the majority of our young and established fast bowlers, in addition to his knowledge of them from county cricket."

England have appointed Shane Bond as a bowling consultant for the first part of the Ashes tour, up to the end of the second Test in Adelaide, but the ECB do not expect that Silverwood will be in place before the end of the Ashes. He had been chosen to assist Flower on the Lions training camp in Australia before Christmas but he will now no longer be part of the staff for that trip.

"When your country comes calling it's a great honour," Silverwood said. "As a player I was always motivated by a driving desire to play for my country, and that's been the case again since I moved into coaching. The chance to be in that England dressing room in international cricket is so exciting.

"But there is a sadness there in leaving Essex, because of the enjoyment I've had at the club, and the gratitude that if it wasn't for the opportunity and support they've given me, I wouldn't be in this position. It's a great club full of great people working really hard, and I've loved working there."

Silverwood's appointment is also good news for the ECB's much vaunted coach development programme led by John Neal. There have been many non-English coaches appointed to work with the full England side over the past five years including Gibson, head coach Trevor Bayliss, spin bowling coach Saqlain Mushtaq as well as some on a consultant basis such as Bond and Mahela Jayawardene.

While including a range of experiences and cultures in a group is never a bad thing and the ECB have quite rightly wanted to get the right men for the job, their coach development programme has needed to start pulling its weight. Peter Moores, the only English head coach since 1999 and the poster boy of the ECB's coaching programme, was a marked failure at international level twice.

Silverwood and Paul Collingwood, who is assisting Bayliss on the Ashes tour, as well as batting coaches Mark Ramprakash and Graham Thorpe are all highly rated. There are others such as Steve Rhodes, the Worcestershire head coach who worked with the squad on the Bangladesh tour last year, and Matt Walker of Kent, who will join the squad for the limited overs series in Australia to give assistant coach Paul Farbrace a rest, who are also highly thought of at the ECB.

Although Silverwood leaves with Essex's blessing and good wishes, it is a blow for the county to lose their head coach so soon after winning the Championship. There will be a lot of interest in the role but Cricbuzzunderstands that Anthony McGrath, currently assistant coach, has a strong chance of being promoted to the top job.

Essex County Cricket Club Chairman, John Faragher, said: "The Club congratulates Chris on his appointment as the England fast-bowling Coach, this is a great honour for him and his family. In his time with Essex, his outstanding leadership and interpersonal skills have been a major factor in taking our cricket to the next level.

"The foundations are now in place for our cricket to continue to grow and we thank Chris for his time, commitment and energy that has helped make Essex the club that it is today. We wish him all the very best in his new role, and look forward to him coming back to Chelmsford whenever possible."

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