Search icon

Cricket

28th Dec 2021

Chris Silverwood maintains there are ‘positives’ despite England Ashes defeat

Callum Boyle

Positives, really?

England boss Chris Silverwood believes that England can still take some positives from their performance despite their crushing defeat to Australia which saw them win the Ashes.

England were bowled for 68 as yet another dismal display with the bat condemned them to defeat by an innings and 14 runs, leading to several supporters demanding an enquiry into yet another embarrassing performance.

Following confirmation of an Australian Ashes victory in Melbourne, Silverwood insisted that he still has the backing of his squad and that there will still some positive things to take from the series.

“I think they are,” he told BT Sport.

“We had a good honest chat after the last game [a 275-run loss in Adelaide]. We just have to put performances together and start pushing back [against Australia].

“It is disappointing for us all and the lads will be feeling that in the dressing room.

“We had a good honest chat after the last Test, we just have to couple those performances together and find a way of pushing back against this bowling attack and scoring runs.

“Yesterday we had a little bit of disruption in the morning and I think the way the guys applied themselves on the field and the way the bowling attack rallied and got us back into this game was a credit to them.

“The way we caught in the last innings was good as well and I think there are positives coming out of this.”

England will now look to consolidate in the final two tests in Sydney and Hobart and Silverwood has said that despite the poor displays, his side still have a selection of “world-class players” to choose from.

“We want to take something away from this series and we want to come back and compete in the last two Test matches,” he said.

“We do have some world-class players and some youngsters as well who are learning on the job constantly.

“What we have to do is try and give them some confidence, we know they have ability and we do back them.

“We have to give them the opportunity to come out and show what they can do in the last two Tests.”

Related links: