England head coach Chris Silverwood will take a break after his team’s two Tests against New Zealand, handing over the reins of the ODI side to his assistants for the home series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, starting late June.
Silverwood’s assistants Paul Collingwood and Graham Thorpe will take charge of the England team for one series each against Sri Lanka and Pakistan from late June to mid-July.
“It’s not fair on the players if I am operating at less than 100%, and it is not fair on myself either,” Silverwood told British media.
“Thorpey will do one and Colly will do the other, and I’ll use it as my break to refresh and get ready for what is ahead of us.”
England have already adopted a rest-and-rotation policy for its players to tackle a relentlessly busy schedule.
After the two-match home Test series against New Zealand, starting on June 2, England will play 12 white-ball internationals at home. Their limited-overs home series against Sri Lanka begins on June 23 with the first of the three T20Is, followed by three ODIs.
Then, Pakistan’s tour of three ODIs and as many T20Is begins on July 16. This will be followed by a five-match home Test series against India beginning August 4, when Silverwood will return to the helm of affairs.
Silverwood is not yet sure whether he will have a break in that time.
“I’m not going to deny it’s not easy for me,” he said, of switching off from his job. “Obviously I am wholly on board with what we are doing. I am very embedded in it now. I do find it hard to switch off but I’ll do my best.”
England are expected to name their test squad for the series against top-ranked New Zealand early next week.
Ashley Giles, the managing director of England men’s cricket, has previously suggested that players who participated in the COVID-19-hit Indian Premier League are unlikely to feature in the Test series, which begins on June 2.
