I can’t see why Bairstow couldn’t come back for South Africa series, says Chris Silverwood

Often unassuming and yet focused, Chris Silverwood led Essex to the County promotion and then the Championship title in two consecutive seasons in 2016 and 2017, before delivering a system for this year's double. It was, in more ways than one, a successful stint that also saw him being an important cog in the Trevor Bayliss's backroom staff before being promoted to the head coach role by ECB director of cricket, Ashley Giles. 

Among his major tasks at hand, the primary one being fixing Joe Root's batting position and the formation of a successful batting line-up by keeping Jonny Bairstow in it. Bairstow's performance has somehow been hot and cold and it eventually led to him being sacked from the squad for the New Zealand tour next month. Silverwood, however, is confident that Bairstow can make a comeback very soon if he can do justice to his talent.

"I don’t want to rule anybody out. Jonny’s a fine player and I can’t see why he couldn’t come back into the frame for South Africa,” Silverwood was quoted as saying by the Guardian.

Speaking of Joe Root, who is yet to find a perfect balance between leadership and his own batting, Silverwood said, "Joe’s got to decide where he wants to bat and we’ve got to support him in that. If he goes back down to No 4 that’s absolutely fine by me. Once that decision is made then we look at what we need to put around him to fulfil the strategy of batting long periods of time."

England's tour of New Zealand will be Silverwood's first series for Silverwood as head coach.