Sri Lanka and Pakistan ODIs: England coach Silverwood to take a break

England cricket coach Chris Silverwood will “pass on the reins” to assistants Graham Thorpe and Paul Collingwood during the upcoming one-day series at home to Sri Lanka and Pakistan as he bids to get “refreshed” amid a congested fixture schedule, AFP reported.

England have a busy home campaign, which also includes T20s against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, as well as seven Tests — two against New Zealand and five against India — ahead of this year’s T20 World Cup in India and the 2021/22 Ashes tour of Australia, AFP reported.

Silverwood, having been ever present during three months away with the squad on tours of Sri Lanka and India at the start of the year, believes the rest and rotation policy England are adopting with their players also applies to the coaching staff, with ‘bubble’ cricket continuing to taking place in the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic.

“I’ll be passing the reins on for the ODI series,” Silverwood said.

“Thorpey will do one and Colly will do the other and I’ll use it as my break in between to refresh and get ready for what is ahead of us.”

Silverwood, now in charge of picking the team after England abolished Ed Smith’s position of national selector, said he had to take a break to ensure he was at his best.