England head coach Chris Silverwood will take a break after the two-match Test series against New Zealand at home in order to refresh himself before returning at the helm for the crucial Test series against India in August this year.
England will kick start its bumper 2021 summer with a two-match Test series against New Zealand, starting on June 2 followed by a home series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan before locking horns with Team India in the marquee five-match Test series starting on August 4 in Nottingham.
After the conclusion of the Test series against New Zealand on June 14, Silverwood will hand over the reins of the England side to his assistants Paul Collingwood and Graham Thorpe for one series each against Sri Lanka and Pakistan from late June to mid-July.
He will miss England’s four ODIs against Sri Lanka, as well as, three ODIs and as many as T20Is against Pakistan to take a break to ensure he is at his best before the India Tests. The England coach has admitted the need for the break amid England's relentlessly busy schedule, saying without such breaks, he “won't be providing the level of service” players deserve.
Silverwood told British media, “It's not fair on the players if I am operating at less than 100%, and it is not fair on myself either. Thorpey will do one and Colly will do the other, and I'll use it as my break to refresh and get ready for what is ahead of us.”
He further explained, “It’s just important that we keep our personnel as fresh as possible. You saw during the winter what we tried to do that with our players to the best of our ability. It’s equally as important we do that with the staff. It’s important we look after each other.
If I am giving them responsibility, I have to learn to back off. As players, they played a lot more international cricket than me, so you surround yourself with the things that maybe you don't have and build a team that way.”
The England coach admitted that switching off from his job would be difficult, but he needs some off time to refresh himself to do his job at his best.
Silverwood signed off by saying, “I’m not going to deny it’s not easy for me. Obviously, I am wholly on board with what we are doing. I am very embedded in it now. I do find it hard to switch off but I’ll do my best. I will definitely have a week...My missus has already booked us a little getaway up in Norfolk (eastern England) somewhere.”
(With AFP Inputs)
