Essex has appointed Chris Silverwood as the club’s new director of cricket, and he will begin in mid-December. He replaces Anthony McGrath, who moved to Yorkshire to take up the head coach role at Headingley.
Silverwood previously enjoyed great success with Essex, guiding them to promotion from Division Two in 2016. The following year, under his leadership, the club won their first County Championship title in 25 years. While Silverwood moved on to roles with England, including head coach, Essex continued their winning ways under McGrath, who led the club to a Championship and Blast double, followed by the Bob Willis Trophy.
Expressing his excitement about returning, Silverwood said, “Essex holds very special memories for me, and it’s been great to see the club’s continued success. I’m eager to develop home-grown talent and build a squad with strength in depth. My goal is to ensure the squad is ready for success next summer.”
Silverwood’s time with England was marred by the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and a crushing Ashes defeat. After stepping down from the England role, he went on to coach Sri Lanka before leaving the position after the T20 World Cup earlier this year.
Essex’s recent club restructuring saw McGrath promoted to director of cricket before his departure, while Silverwood’s reappointment comes after a comprehensive recruitment process. Jason Gallian, chair of Essex’s cricket committee, expressed confidence in Silverwood as the best candidate for the role and his motivation to lead the club to further success.
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