![](https://essexcricket.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/silverwood.jpg)
Head Coach Chris Silverwood received high praise from England Lions Head Coach Andy Flower after his contributions in the recent tour of Sri Lanka.
Silverwood linked up with the team in February ahead of the scheduled longer-form matches and stayed with the squad until the culmination of the one-day series.
The 42-year-old returns to Chelmsford today ahead of the Club’s tour to Dubai and will head into the 2017 season with his experiences improved.
Flower was delighted with the value Silverwood added and said: “We asked Chris Silverwood to join us as an assistant coach on this tour of Sri Lanka, primarily because of his fast-bowling expertise, but also because he’s now quite an experienced all-round coach. And he’s proved really valuable in both those areas.
“He’s been a really good support to me, someone who I can trust, and it’s been great having another head coach of a county side, after Steve Rhodes from Worcestershire last winter, coming to contribute to our national programme.
“I think they’re really good relationships for us to have with influential county leaders, and it reminds us all that we are in this together doing our best for English cricket.”