Chris Silverwood is convinced he is the right person to take England out of the Ashes.
Despite the flawed embarrassment of a campaign, Silverwood has no plans to review his position as head coach or even as England pick the wrong team twice.
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He said his crush was followed by an honest debate, a 275-run loss in the second Test, in which “some things were thrown around” – although he meant words rather than objects.
Silverwood is under the impression that “a really cool thing in the dressing room” is proof that England can change course and that he is doing a good job.
Asked if he can help England do better, Silverwood insisted: “Yes, I believe I can. We had those honest chats and I believe in doing so.” I have the right coaching staff around me.
“When you take a job like this, you accept that thing will happen. It is what it is.
“Do I believe I’m the right guy? Yes, I do, or I wouldn’t have taken the job in the first place. You’re under constant pressure, aren’t you?”
Silverwood is a likable man with great strength as he is also the chief selector.
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But it’s hard to escape the thought that Captain Joe Root needs a more forceful character as Coach, someone who isn’t afraid to turn on the hair dryer.
With the white-ball team, captain Eoin Morgan fills that role. No player takes liberties with Morgan, so Silverwood can be a good cop.
Root criticized players including Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson after the loss on Monday, without actually naming them.
But he lacks Morgan’s sharp edge and also lacks genuine instinct or original cricket.
There is no indication that Silverwood is capable of temperamental thinking. That’s why England needs a fanatic with a brilliant cricketing mind.
If I were in charge of the ECB, I would have gone to former Australian captain Ricky Ponting with a blank check and asked him to run the England team – although he would almost certainly say no.
They have everything they want on this tour
It is almost as if Silverwood does not want to disturb the players, especially in these Covid times.
But, Crick, they have everything they could want on this tour – business class international flights, charters between cities, top hotels, plus wives, families, and partners with them.
There isn’t someone covering this tour who doesn’t think the England selection has been terrible.
It is readily apparent that Broad should have played in the nine-wicket first Test defeat at Brisbane before spinner Jack Leach – and the equally obvious Leach and Mark Wood should have played in Adelaide.
It may not have changed the results, but such basic mistakes make life easier for Australia. So dropping catches, taking wickets with no balls and falling weak batting.
But Silverwood claimed: “That’s the beauty of the game, isn’t it? It divides opinion.
I don’t believe we did wrong. I am happy with my attack in both the matches.
Chris Silverwood
“We played a spinner in Brisbane because we wanted variety in our attack – and I think that was the right thing.
“Then in the pink ball game, we played all the fast bowlers. We have some strong fast bowlers with a lot of experience, so we picked the best attack to take wickets.
“No, I don’t believe we made a mistake. We picked the best attack for the conditions. I am happy with my attack in both the matches.”
He said: “We have fallen twice and we need to fix things. We had a good conversation in the dressing room which was healthy and necessary.
“I think there are some lessons to be learned. We have to get better – it’s as simple as that.”
Meanwhile, Australia have included pacer Scott Boland in their squad for the Boxing Day Test as Josh Hazlewood is suspected of having a side injury.
