The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Silverwood bullish as Test challenge looms
England coach Chris Silverwood is relishing the challenge of attempting to improve their Test fortunes after starting his reign with a dramatic Twenty20 series victory over New Zealand.
England edged out the Black Caps following a second Super Over between the teams in the space of four months in their Auckland decider, but there is precious little time for celebration or reflection.
Preparations for the two-Test series against the same opponents begin in earnest today with a twoday warm-up at the Cobham Oval in Whangarei versus a New Zealand XI in their first red-ball assignment since the Ashes.
England’s failure to regain the urn on home soil for the first time in 18 years after a 2-2 series draw was a source of disappointment, while their batting in recent months and years has become a particular cause for concern.
They have been bowled out in a session four times since 2016 while, in the last year alone, they have been skittled in double figures on three occasions.
Silverwood has already begun thinking about ways to eliminate these collapses and is bullish they can start the process in the forthcoming series against the Kiwis and then in the four Tests in South Africa on their next tour.
The Yorkshireman said: “I’m an eternal optimist. We’ll go into every series looking to win but also to improve all the time. If we push ourselves forward, that will naturally put ourselves into positions to win.
“The big thing for me is if we can come away from a Test series having started that journey, the method of batting for a long time, putting runs on the board.
“If we can come away having started that process, galvanising people and figuring out their roles, then it will be a success. I’m very much looking forward to getting my teeth stuck into the longer format now.”
Following an exhausting World Cup and Ashes summer, England rested a number of their all-format campaigners from the five T20s, while those who featured in the 3-2 win must immediately switch attention to the Test schedule.
The likes of Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer joined the red-ball specialists in Auckland towards the end of last week and travelled with the rest of the squad and management on the journey north to Whangarei yesterday.