Essex Cricket can confirm that Chris Silverwood will leave his position as Head Coach to take up the role as England’s Fast Bowling Coach in early 2018.
Chris has been an instrumental part of the Club’s success in recent seasons, since stepping up to become Head Coach in December 2015. He led the team to consecutive Specsavers County Championship titles, after winning Division Two in 2016, and leaves as a County Champion following Essex’s first Championship title in 25 years this season.
Essex County Cricket Club Chairman, John Faragher, said: “The Club congratulates Chris on his appointment as the England Fast Bowling Coach, this is a great honour for him and his family. In his time with Essex County Cricket Club, his outstanding leadership and interpersonal skills have been a major factor in taking our cricket to the next level.
“He can look back at his time with us with great pride and satisfaction. Winning the Specsavers County Championship Division Two title last year and then Division One this year was beyond our wildest dreams. He has started the next chapter in Essex Cricket’s history and has installed a mentality for winning and continuous improvement into the squad.
“The foundations are now in place for our cricket to continue to grow and we thank Chris for his time, commitment and energy that has helped make Essex the Club that it is today. We wish him all the very best in his new role, and look forward to him coming back to Chelmsford whenever possible.”
Chris joined the Essex coaching staff in 2010, developing the likes of Tymal Mills, Reece Topley and Tom Westley, who have all since represented the full England team. During his time at Essex, Chris worked closely with the Club’s Academy and Performance Programme to oversee player development, which includes the significant progression of the current young First Team players, including Jamie Porter, Dan Lawrence, Paul Walter and Sam Cook.
Essex Cricket Chief Executive, Derek Bowden said: “We never could have imagined the Club’s success over the past two years but a large proportion of that has been down to Chris’s efforts on and off the field of play.
“We must also see this as another positive achievement for the Club. Essex are not only consistently producing England cricketers, but also producing England coaches, and this Club is proud to provide our staff with a platform to attain higher honours.
“Since taking up the role of Head Coach, Chris has worked very closely with myself and the Cricket Advisory Group to help build and execute our Cricket Strategy and it’s with great sadness that he leaves us before our objective of retaining the County Championship title has begun.
“However, we wish Chris every bit of the success that he deserves in his new career with England and he will always be welcome back at Chelmsford in the future.”
Chairman of the Essex Cricket Advisory Group, Ronnie Irani, added: “Chris has become a major part of the Club’s history in a short amount of time as Head Coach of Essex County Cricket Club.
“Not only is he a great guy, but he has also shown what a superb Coach he is, which is proven through the young talent he’s developed and by the way he has helped to ingrain a winning mentality throughout the squad.
“Chris brought a new and refreshing ethos to coaching when he joined Essex, which was evident in the way the team has played over the past two years. I’m sure he will go on to be a great success with England and I wish him well.”
Chris Silverwood expressed his sincere appreciation for the Club. “First of all, I just want to say a massive thank you to Essex and everyone who works at the Club. The support I have received from the members, supporters and staff over my two years as Head Coach at the Club has been incredible.
“The way everyone came together to get behind my vision, and the vision of the Club is special, and ultimately why I am in the position I am in now. It has been a real pleasure working with every single person at the Club.
“From the moment I joined the Club I have enjoyed every minute of it. Getting the Head Coach role and being able to achieve what we have in the last two years, it has been an incredible journey, and one I feel privileged to have been a part of.
“It was a special moment to take a step back and see the smiles on the players faces after we had won the County Championship. To see the young lads succeed and show what good cricketers they are is always extremely pleasing but also to see the older squad members’ achieve their dreams is something that will live long in the memory.
“Alongside that, to see what bringing that trophy back to Chelmsford meant to the members and supporters was amazing. It really is a special Club, and to be a small part of history and what the Club has achieved is something I feel proud of.”
Everyone at Essex Cricket would like to wish Chris the best of luck in his new role with England and thank him for the incredible service he has given the Club over the last 8 years.
