England head coach Chris Silverwood on Tuesday said he believes he is the right person for the position, despite mounting pressure after the pink-ball Test defeat against Australia in Adelaide. Silverwood conceded that there is always pressure but he is confident of turning it around for England in their impressive Ashes campaign.
England has slipped For a 0-2 scoreline in the 5-match series Down Under. They lost the first match of the series in Brisbane by 9 wickets and lost the day-night Test in Adelaide by 275 runs.
After the poor performance in the first two Tests, questions are being raised on England’s strategy. In the Brisbane Test, England did not play both their leading wicket-takers, James Anderson and Stuart Broad, and their return did not have the desired effect in Adelaide.
route out The captain is also being reprimanded for his disappointment over the length of the England bowlers in the Adelaide Test but not being proactive in making decisions on the field.
“There’s always (pressure). You accept it when you take a job like this. It’s the same. Do I believe I’m the right guy? Yes, I do or I don’t take the job in the first place.” You are under constant pressure,” Silverwood said.
“I believe I can change that. We have those honest chats and I believe I have the right coaching staff to make it happen.”
England played Jack Leach as the lone spinner in Brisbane, but he went with a quicker attack in Adelaide, which has traditionally been known to give some assists to spinners. England did not consider off-spinner Dom Bass for selection, while Leach conceded a lot at the Gabba.
Silverwood, however, defended the team selection for the Adelaide Test.
“No, I don’t believe (we believe it to be wrong. We have picked the best attack for those conditions and you look at the attack we have made, there is a lot of experience,” he said.
Had good conversation in dressing room: Silverwood
Meanwhile, Silverwood said England had good conversations in the dressing room after the loss in Adelaide and is focusing on correcting the mistakes that have cost them in Australia so far.
“We had a really good conversation in the dressing room which was needed… We have to get better, it’s that simple,” he said.
“It’s not just batting and bowling. Look how many opportunities we have left in the field: dropped catches, missed run-outs and everything else.
“Wickets on no-balls are unacceptable. It’s a fundamental error… Our batting has fallen. We’ve talked about both in these games. We’ve fallen before and we can’t afford to do that.” “
England would like to make a comeback when they take on Australia in Melbourne in the Boxing Day Test.