It’s so sad leaving Essexbut I couldn’t sayNotoEngland
ENGLAND have managed to pluck the County Championship winning coach Chris Silverwood away from Essex to step into the role of fast bowling coach, as exclusively revealed in TheCricket
Paper in September.
Silverwood led Essex to their first title since 1992 and the former Yorkshire, Middlesex and England seamer will become the full-time replacement for Ottis Gibson after the upcoming Ashes series.
Gibson departed at the end of the summer to become the head coach of South Africa with England bringing in Shane Bond, the former New Zealand quick, on a short-term consultancy role though he will depart mid-series to take up his role with Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League.
Silverwood, 42, won’t be Down Under during the Ashes despite having had a prior agreement to travel to Australia in November as part of the coaching set-up of England Lions. He is expected to join the England squad in January.
“When your country comes calling it’s a great honour,” said Silverwood. “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 was capped six times by England during his playing career, taking 11 wickets, and has Ashes experience having won the last of his half-dozen caps in Perth during the 2002-03 tour.
He joined Essex after hanging up his playing boots in 2010 and spent six seasons as bowling coach before taking over as head coach ahead of the 2016 season, which ended with Essex winning Division Two.
He then backed that up by romping to the Division One title 12 months later.
Director of England cricket Andrew Strauss said: “His record at Essex shows his capabilities both as an 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.”
There has been better news for Essex this week though with batsman Tom Westley putting pen to paper on a new two-year contract.
Westley played five Tests for England this summer but missed out on a spot in the Ashes squad after failing to make double figures in five of his last seven innings.
The 28-year-old said: “To be a part of this team with my close friends and achieve the success we have done is special.
“I am delighted to extend my contract and it was an easy decision to make, with the vision and plans the club have in place.
“Winning the County Championship was just the start of that journey, and as a group of players we have spoken about creating a legacy that will be remembered for years to come.”