Chris Silverwood has been named as England’s head coach across formats, replacing Trevor Bayliss, who stepped down from the position after the Ashes this year.
The other candidates in the running were Alec Stewart, Gary Kirsten and Graham Ford. However, Silverwood, the team’s fast bowling coach since 2017, was picked. Having learned his coaching trade at Essex, Silverwood helped his county side to their first Championship in 25 years in 2017.
“We are delighted to confirm Chris as England men’s head coach,” said ECB director Ashley Giles. “We have gone through a thorough process and looked at all the options that were available to us. Chris was the standout candidate.
“I believe he is what we need to take our international teams forward. He is somebody we know well, but it is his intimate understanding of our structures and systems and his close relationships with Test captain Joe Root and white-ball captain Eoin Morgan that will help us develop our plans for the next few years.
“He has performed exceptionally well during his role as an assistant coach and has the ultimate respect of the players’ that have worked with him. Chris demonstrated in his interview a clear understanding and strategy of how both the red and white ball teams need to evolve. He has some detailed thoughts on what it will take to win the Ashes in Australia and win major ICC white-ball tournaments.
“His relationships with the first-class game, in particular, county coaches and Directors of Cricket, will be invaluable. Having led Essex to the County Championship title in 2017, his legacy is very much in evidence this campaign, which saw Essex win the domestic double of the Specsavers County Championship and the Vitality Blast. Ultimately, his highest quality is that he is a winner and that will be an important part of the job as we look to strive to become the most respected team in the world across all formats.”
Silverwood’s first assignment will be the tour of New Zealand next month. Two Tests and five T20Is have been scheduled for the series.
“I am thrilled and honoured to be appointed England head coach,” Silverwood said. “I am excited to get started and build teams that the whole game can be proud of. There is a tremendous amount of talent coming through, and there is enormous potential for growth. The hard work starts now, and I am confident we can make a positive impact during our winter tours of New Zealand and South Africa.”