Home

Silverwood future unclear after Ashes rout

Rory DollardPress Association
Chris Silverwood admits his future as England coach is 'under scrutiny' after the 4-0 Ashes rout.
Camera IconChris Silverwood admits his future as England coach is 'under scrutiny' after the 4-0 Ashes rout. Credit: AAP

England head coach Chris Silverwood does not know if he will survive this winter's Ashes thrashing but is keen to ensure there is no repeat performance in four years' time.

Silverwood is under no illusion about how precarious his position is after the tourists crashed to a 4-0 series defeat with an embarrassing collapse in Hobart.

The appetite for change is mounting but the conveyor belt of fixtures rolls on with the Test team jetting out to the Caribbean in the final week of February for three matches.

As it stands, Silverwood will be picking the squad for that trip in the next few weeks but he is realistic enough to accept that, with Giles currently writing a tour review, nothing cannot be taken for granted.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

Asked if he had received assurances over his role, he said: "Nothing yet, no. I accept the job I'm in comes with the level of criticism it does and the uncertainty as well.

"Until I'm told differently, I'll start planning for the West Indies. I want to carry on but there are decisions above that will be made as well.

The Game AFL 2024

"My job is going to be under scrutiny, there will be a review when we get home and part and parcel of that will be my job.

"I would love to help effect changes, and I would like to put some of this right. I think I can do that.

"I think I'm a good coach and I would love to be given that opportunity but it's out of my hands at the moment. We want to sit down, debrief, let the dust settle and the emotions settle.

"Everything is quite emotional at the moment. Let's look at it in the cold light of day."

Silverwood aligned himself to the growing consensus around a reset in England's attitude to first-class and Test cricket and is keen for England's head coach to be dealt a better hand on the next trip.

"I'm the head coach of England but I'm also an England fan, I'm passionate. I'd like to see changes come in that would help us do the job better - that's what I want," he said.

"I'm not a big one for apportioning blame on people but I do think it needs addressing for the next time we come here.

"We have got to sit down and get people to make these decisions round a table and make it work.

"We have to see action. If talk is all we do then in four years' time you will just be asking another person these same questions.

"The changes have to happen if we are serious about being No.1 in the world and serious about competing in Australia."

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails