Chris hopes batsmen can learn from India loss
England head coach Chris Silverwood is hoping hard times will help him make hard cricketers and wants his side to use the stinging two-day loss to India to stiffen their resolve.
Silverwood saw his side bowled out twice in less than 80 overs at the crease, mustering a grim total of 193 in their two innings on an Ah me dab ad pitch that he holds clear misgivings about.
Like captain Joe Root, he would not be drawn into a direct critique of the extreme spinning conditions but did make it clear the case was not considered closed within the England ranks, who could yet opt to pursue the matter through official channels.
“We will be talking about certain things behind the scenes. Joe and I have to have a sit down, have a conversation and see where we go with it,” he said.
“I’m not saying we’ve just got to accept things, I’m just saying at this moment in time I’ve not got anything to add.”
He was happier to open up about what he hoped his players could take out of their humbling defeat, a game attempt to pluck the positives from England’s fastest Test defeat in 100 years.
“You look at the guys we’ve got in there, your Popes, Crawleys, Sibleys. As tough as it is at the moment, hopefully this will galvanise them,” he said.
“When they do get on flat surfaces, better surfaces, it will make them even more hungry and desperate to make sure they get runs. This experience will just harden them towards that. Equally, the next time they experience a situation like this, it won’t be as much of a shock to them. As tough as it is and as painful as it is at this moment, hopefully we can take some good lessons.”