Joe Root throws weight behind under fire Chris Silverwood: "We've let him down"

GEORGE DOBELL IN HOBART: The Test captain wants to see Silverwood remain in place for the Test tour in the West Indies next March and says his team should take responsibility for the scrutiny over his position

Joe Root has endorsed Chris Silverwood to carry on as England coach and suggested the players had “let him down” with their performances in the Ashes.

England set a series of unwanted records in Test cricket in 2021 including the most defeats in a calendar year (nine) and the most individual ducks by players (54). Their attempts to regain the Ashes were brushed aside in 12-days and they are currently bottom of the World Test Championship table.

But Root, who looks set to continue as England’s Test captain, insists there are mitigating factors behind that record and says he hopes Silverwood continues as Test coach. In particular, Root points out that England have rarely been able to put out their strongest side due to a combination of their schedule and their rest and rotation policy.

Silverwood has been reunited with the Test squad in Hobart in the last couple of days having missed the Sydney leg of the trip having tested positive for Covid.

“Yes, I would like Chris to continue as head coach,” Root said. “Yes, I would like him to be head coach in the Caribbean [where England are scheduled to play three Tests in March].

“I think the performances we put in during the first three games, I feel we've let him and the coaches down to a degree. We've not played anywhere near the level we're capable of. It's a chance to do that this week.

“He's had a very difficult time of it with the environment's we've been living in. He’s been trying to manage winning games of cricket with bubble environments away from home. With multi-format players trying to prepare for an Ashes and a World Cup, it's very difficult.

^{Root hopes England can build on the draw at Sydney (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)}

“For a long time, we've not been able to put our best teams out because we've been constantly trying to make sure from a mental wellbeing point of view everyone is looked after properly, because of the schedule we've dealt with over two years.”

Although Root could hardly be expected to criticise Silverwood in public, his words were strikingly unequivocal.

So while Pat Cummins, his Australia counterpart, diverted questions about Justin Langer by saying the matter would be discussed when his contract ends in a couple of months, Root was happy to answer directly and provide a ringing endorsement of Silverwood. While you suspect a strong performance this week would remain hugely beneficial to the coach’s future, Root’s words will be a boost to him.

He is not out of the woods, though. Ashley Giles, the director of England’s men’s cricket, is writing a review of the campaign at present and it remains possible that the ECB board insist on more accountability.

Equally, while Root’s praise of Silverwood felt genuine, Giles may reflect that the qualities described are just a little soft. It remains possible that Giles and co. decide that a little tougher approach is required. 

“He's very calm,” Root said when asked what qualities Silverwood brought to the job. “He has the respect of the guys in the group. And he's got a desperation to see everyone do well and upskill the players as best he can.

^{Ollie Robinson's fitness has drawn scrutiny (Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)}

“It was a difficult week for the group of players with him not being around and it must have been very difficult for him. We made a small step forward last week in the way we went about things and now we have to shift that into an actual performance.

"We have to show the desire, character and what this group is about but ultimately you have to put that into wins. We have to take the next step as a team. We just need to win this week to instil a bit of pride back after the way the first three games unfolded.”

Meanwhile, Root said he hoped Ollie Robinson was learning from the dedication and professionalism of his Australian counterparts. While the England management have been impressed with Robinson’s skills as a seam bowler, they have been underwhelmed by his diet and fitness.

He was rested from the Sydney Test after looking exhausted throughout most of the Melbourne game and is understood to have been spoken to several times about his predilection for fast food. Mitchell Starc, by contrast, is about to play his fifth Test in succession despite bowling around 10 per cent quicker than Robinson.

“I hope so,” Root replied when asked if he thought Robinson would be inspired by Starc’s example. “You look at their three main seamers, they have generally managed to keep themselves fit and available and for the last three years operated as a three-man attack along with Nathan Lyon. In that respect, the way they have managed themselves physically is a lesson for us.

“One thing I would say is the amount of cricket they play in comparison to us is slightly different. But still: for young guys coming into Test cricket and for county players there are serious lessons to be learned from these top performers who are fit and ready to play. Hopefully, those sort of messages go beyond this team and spread far and wide in the county set up.”

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