Silverwood proud despite series loss

ENGLAND may have left India empty-handed after series defeats across all three formats, but head coach Chris Silverwood, right, reflected on a long winter of touring with pride.

Silverwood left home for Sri Lanka on January 2 and spent almost three full months on one of the most restrictive away trips ever undertaken, taking in quarantines and bio-secure bubbles in Hambantota, Galle, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Pune.

On the field, England peaked in the first Test against India, following back-to-back wins in Sri Lanka with a memorable success in the series opener against Virat Kohli’s men, who bounced back to take the red-ball, Twenty20 and ODI honours.

England did not make things easy, taking both white-ball legs to a decider and going all the way to a final dramatic over in the one-dayers thanks to Sam Curran’s rousing fightback.

Looking back on a long and arduous assignment, Silverwood could only commend his troops.

“I’m very proud of them, I’m proud of each and every player who has been out here,” he said.

“I’m proud of the effort and the attitude that’s been shown towards the game. I think we’ve learned a lot and from that point of view I couldn’t ask any more of them. I think we take a lot of experience.

“It’s a very difficult place to come and win, we know that India are very strong in their conditions.

“But there’s been lots of encouragement. We’ve got valuable experience for the T20 World Cup that’s coming up here.

“Looking at the Test series, with the amount of experience the youngsters will take from playing in those conditions, the lessons they’ve learned, when they come back again they’ll know what to do and have a better game plan.”

Silverwood also revisited England’s policy of rotation. Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Mark Wood and Moeen Ali were all taken out of the firing line at points during the Test matches, while Joe Root and Chris Woakes sat out the 50-over matches.

“I would do the same again,” he said. “The priority has to be that the players are alright. Stepping in before anybody breaks, so to speak, is the best way to go.”