England coach Silverwood is grateful for gift of the Gabba
England head coach Chris Silverwood took time out from plotting another victory over Sri Lanka to watch Australia’s historic defeat by India and admitted it was nice to see their Ashes rivals feeling the heat.
The majority of the travelling party in Galle took the chance to tune in as an injury-ravaged India stormed The Gabba,becomingthefirstteam since 1988 to win a Test in the BaggyGreen’sBrisbanestronghold.
The manner of the 2-1 series defeat has led to serious questions over Tim Paine’s captaincy and, although Silverwood declined to weigh in on that matter, anything that helps England perform their own smash-and-grab Down Under next winter is a cause for satisfaction.
“I thought it was brilliant. It’s nothing to do with me, Tim Paine’s captaincy, but it’s alwaysnicetoseepeopleinopposition teams under pressure,” he said.
“It shows that, if you do the basics well and get stuck in, we can beat them. Our boys back in the hotel were taking an interestandIthinkmostofthem appeared for lunch after India had won. So they were all staying and watching.”
England, of course, also have the small matter of nine consecutive away and home Tests against an India side whose confidence will be goingthroughtheroof.Addthose toaneagerly-anticipatedclash over the urn and the five-day
format could be set for a year to remember in 2021.
“Ifyoulookatwhatwe’vegot in front of us, before we get to the Ashes we have nine Tests against India. What a fantastic way to prepare against very strongopposition,”saidSilverwood.
“There’ll be some great cricketandalltheguyshereare excited to play in those series, just as we are excited to play in
this one.
“Thereissomegreatcricket coming up. It’s a great position for our players to go out and show what they can do and show off their skills.”
England’s primary focus remains on tomorrow’s clash with Sri Lanka, when they will look to turn an accomplished first Test victory into a 2-0 series sweep.
The old adage about never changing a winning formula is almost certain to be cast aside, with the heavy workload and sapping sub-continental conditionslikelytoleadtorotation among the pace attack.
Recordwicket-takerJames Anderson can expect to trade places with the man who sits second on that list, Stuart Broad, and Chris Woakes will hope to push Sam Curran for the all-rounder slot.
But while Anderson and Woakes are both seasoned campaigners, there could be a chanceforthelessestablished Olly Stone. The 27-year-old Stone has not featured since taking three for 29 on his Test debut against Ireland in 2019 but is the most obvious ‘like for like’ replacement for fellow quick Mark Wood.
“At some point we probably do need to get him into the attackifwecan,”Silverwoodsaid. “He’s got to earn his way there, which he is doing, he’s workinghardanddoingeverythingweaskofhim.Itwouldbe great to get some Test experience in him at some point.
“He is getting better and better in the areas he is bowling and the understanding of whathe’stryingtodo.Iamvery excited that we’ve people like Olly in the attack.”