Ex-England player identifies replacement for Chris Silverwood after Ashes farce

Chris Silverwood’s position as England head coach is being questioned after the team’s humiliation in the Ashes series Down Under

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Root accepts England need wholesale changes after Ashes defeat

Former international cricketer Nick Compton has called for head coach Chris Silverwood to be replaced after England ‘s Ashes humiliation in Australia.

The retired ex-Middlesex and Somerset batter said the time is right for a change and offered a suggestion as to who should be drafted in to replace the under-fire coach.

Silverwood was slammed as being “out of his depth” as he became a main target of fans’ frustrations as England’s series defeat was confirmed with a dismal 68 all-out in the second innings of the third Test.

Despite England producing one of their worst Test innings in history, Silverwood attempted to look on the bright side after the match and insisted there were “positives” to take from the performance.

That remark was widely ridiculed, with Piers Morgan among those to mock the 46-year-old for his daring attempt at optimism after such a humbling defeat.

Compton believes England should be looking to head in a new direction after another humiliation Down Under, and singled out former India and South Africa coach Gary Kirsten as an ideal replacement.

“I would make a change now,” he told Sky Sports. “I think Silverwood is a good man and did the best he can. Kirsten would be the right person. He understands top-level batting, he’s been there in a consistent fashion.

“Are [managing director Ashley] Giles and Silverwood the problem? That’s the big question. I don’t think suddenly you come in and overhaul everything.

“It’s about getting the right people into the right places. I don’t think Giles has made the right appointments.

“I think Kirsten should have got the coaching job, someone who’s more skilled, with experience of taking teams to No 1 in the world, who has won World Cups.

“With all due respect to Silverwood, he’s given his absolute best, but he hasn’t had the long-term experience of being a head coach.

“As well as giving him complete autonomy with the selection, it’s a huge role to take on. The selection has been pretty abysmal in this series, it obviously hasn’t worked.

“He could have stayed as the bowling coach, I think Kirsten would have been the right man to take on this role.

“I do think there’s been wrong appointments, the guys beneath him, what are they actually doing?”

That suggestion that Silverwood has enjoyed too much control over big decisions was backed up by another former England batsman in Mark Butcher.

“He has been given an extraordinary amount of power as he’s also the chief selector, which is utter nonsense,” the Surrey stalwart said.

“It’s completely unsustainable. Whether or not the messaging from him is now starting to fall upon deaf ears in the dressing room is something only they know in there. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if there’s a change at the top.”