WE WERE MASKING FOR TROUBLE
Silverwood tells angry Broad he has big England future and hails his, er, hunger after blast
STUART BROAD has been assured he still has a big role to play for England with head coach Chris Silverwood insisting his outburst at being dropped showcased hunger not bitterness.
England’s second-most successful wicket-taker let known his frustrations in a TV interview during the first Test after he was benched at Southampton.
After the joint decision of stand-in captain Ben Stokes and Silverwood who opted for the express pace of Mark Wood and Jofra Archer, Broad let fly saying he was “frustrated, gutted and angry.” Silverwood, who looks likely to restore Broad to the starting XI at Old Trafford as England look to level the series after their defeat, insisted he stood by his decision.
Silverwood (right) said: “I think Stuart handled himself very well during that interview. What I did love about it, and subsequently the conversations I’ve had with him is that passion, that drive is still there.
“To see that in someone who’s done as much in the game as he has, I find it very exciting. And Stuart still has a big role to play within this team. And I’ve made that very clear to him.”
Selector Ed Smith proved a useful lightning rod for Broad’s anger given the bowler had no wish to criticise Stokes or Silverwood. But the latter stressed Smith’s involvement in the selection ended with the delivery of a 13-man squad.
“The selectors help us pick the 13 then the final XI comes down to Ben and myself,” said Silverwood. “The decision was made because of what we felt we needed on this pitch.
“As Ben did, I stand by the decision. We saw in the game as well that some of the bowlers that did have an impact had pace.
“Shannon Gabriel came in, as did Alzarri Joseph. We saw Jofra Archer involved – he bowled a beautiful opening spell in their second innings.”
Silverwood is also set to stand by Jos Buttler despite building concern about his inability to translate whiteball dominance to the longer format.
Buttler had a trying Test, falling in the second innings for nine to continue a run of 12 innings without a halfcentury.
He also dropped matchwinner Jermaine Blackwood on 20 and saw him make 95. With Ben Foakes considered a better gloveman, pressure is growing – but Silverwood insisted he was not about to load more on Buttler’s shoulders.
“I’m not gonna go down that road of putting Jos under pressure because I don’t think it’s going to help him,” he said.
“Yes we have got a very very good gloveman in Ben Foakes but it’s about making sure Jos feels confident in the environment he’s in.
“We’ll give him the best chance to succeed. The rest of it is, he has a good day out, gets some runs, hopefully he’ll go on from there.”