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Chris Silverwood: Worrying about my job is at ‘bottom of my list’ after Ashes defeat

Head Coach Chris Silverwood appears the most at risk of England’s leadership after they lost the Ashes inside 12 days, but he insists he is “not going to worry about” his future.

Silverwood has been England coach for a little over two years, having taken over from Trevor Bayliss, under whom he served as bowling coach.

His first year in charge was broadly positive, with Test victories in South Africa and at home to West Indies and Pakistan, but England have struggled badly in 2021 as a well-intentioned but ultimately flawed policy of rest and rotation undermined the captaincy of Joe Root, the only batter to stand up.

Silverwood was trusted as Head Coach and Selector, a job that looks too much for any individual. He is a well-respected man and has proved himself as a fine head coach with Essex and bowling coach with England, but the top job of the national team has unique demands, especially during the pandemic.

Silverwood says he is not thinking about his own job, instead worrying about the remaining two Tests of this series.

“I’m not going to worry about my job, I’m just going to do my best with what I believe can work and that’s what I’m going to do,” Silverwood said.

“Worrying about myself is at the bottom of the list to be honest. What we have to do is look forward to these next two Tests, stay positive if we can and make sure we are there, we compete and we take something from this tour.”

Asked if he believed he could turn things around, Silverwood said: “I do, I do. I feel like I am capable of leading this team to winning things and that’s what I’m going to stay focussed on and that’s all I can do.”