Silverwood won’t duck the big calls

CHRIS SILVERWOOD does not appear to be a coach from the Sir Alex Ferguson school. There was no hairdryer treatment for England after their capitulation in Centurion but he insisted yesterday he is capable of making the big decisions needed to revitalise his squad. Silverwood has had a tough start to his coaching reign after taking over from Trevor Bayliss. Defeat in New Zealand was followed by losing the first Test of a series against South Africa that England desperately need to win. His task has hardly been helped by an outbreak of illness within his squad that laid low an 11th player, Dom Sibley, at England’s Johannesburg base before they head to Cape Town. Silverwood has a reputation for quiet toughness and will do whatever it takes to get England back on the right Test path. The first big decision could come before Friday’s second Test when Silverwood and captain Joe Root may need to drop one of their bowling big beasts, Jimmy Anderson or Stuart Broad, to accommodate a spinner. There is a growing feeling England must start looking to the future rather than risk both retiring at the same time and leaving a gaping hole. ‘In Jimmy and Stu we have a wealth of experience and we’d be stupid not to take that into consideration every game,’ said Silverwood. ‘But, equally, you want your youngsters to come through and, if we’re going to make room for a spinner, we must have a look at which seamers are right for this pitch. ‘If there’s a big decision, we’re not afraid to make it.’ Seamers Jofra Archer and Sam Curran seem certain to play alongside Ben Stokes and a spinner, probably Dom Bess, at Newlands. That leaves Silverwood needing to decide whether Anderson or Broad will miss out.