Silverwood hopes England batsmen can learn from third Test humbling by India
England head coach Chris Silverwood is hoping hard times will help him make hard cricketers and wants his side to use the stinging two-day loss to India to stiffen their resolve.
Silverwood saw his side bowled out twice in less than 80 overs at the crease, mustering a grim total of 193 in their two innings on an ahmedabad pitch that he holds clear misgivings about.
Like captain Joe Root, he would not be drawn into a direct critique of the extreme spinning conditions but did make it clear England could yet opt to pursue the matter through official channels.
"We will be talking about certain things behind the scenes. Joe and I have to have a sit down, have a conversation and see where we go with it," he said, without elaborating.
He was happier to open up about what he hoped his players could take out of their humbling defeat, England's fastest Test loss in 100 years.
"You look at the guys we've got in there, your Popes, Crawleys, Sibleys. As tough as it is at the moment, hopefully this will galvanise them," he said.
"When they do get on flat surfaces, better surfaces, it will make them even more hungry and desperate to make sure they get runs. When we travel to other countries, such as Australia, hopefully if they get themselves in they'll get greedy and go big. This experience will just harden them towards that. Equally, the next time they experience a situation like this, it won't be as much of a shock to them. As painful as it is at this moment, hopefully we can take some good lessons."