Under-fire Chris Silverwood leads nets session with England flops

Under-fire Chris Silverwood leads nets session with beleaguered England flops at the MCG after they surrendered the Ashes in humiliating third Test defeat inside just three days

  • Members of England’s squad were put through their paces in Melbourne 
  • They are still reeling after losing the Ashes within 12 days of the tour beginning 
  • An innings defeat at the MCG saw the pressure increase on Chris Silverwood 
  • Rory Burns, Haseeb Hameed, Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes all took part 

Under-pressure head coach Chris Silverwood led England training for the first time since they surrendered the Ashes to Australia in the third Test.

Another woeful batting performance from the tourists saw them bowled out for 68 before lunch on day three at the MCG, which resulted in a victory by an innings and 14 runs and unassailable 3-0 series lead for Pat Cummins’ men.

The pressure has subsequently mounted on Silverwood – whose side surrendered the urn within 12 days of the tour – especially following his comments that ‘there were positives’ to take out of England’s heavy defeat in Melbourne.

Chris Silverwood led England training for the first time since they surrendered the Ashes

Struggling opener Haseeb Hameed was involved in training at the Melbourne Cricket Ground

And it was at the site of their 12th defeat in their last 13 Tests in Australia where some of the squad were put through their paces, especially with many of them now in for a recall.

Among those involved in the net session was opener Rory Burns, who made a battling 34 at Adelaide but was dropped for the defeat at the MCG.

His replacement in Melbourne – Zak Crawley – also took part having made just 17 runs in two innings against Pat Cummins’ men.

Also taking part was Zak Crawley, who struggled in his first game of the series at the MCG

Rory Burns – who was dropped for the third Test after his own struggles – also had a net

Haseeb Hameed has been the constant at the top of the order during this series but was also put through some drills as his struggles continue following a first-innings duck and a single-figure score in the second innings.

But also taking part were England bowling options hoping to be selected for the fourth Test in Sydney next week.

Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes were omitted in favour of Mark Wood and Jack Leach at the MCG, but looked to stay in the swing of things as they sent down deliveries in the session.

Veteran seamer Broad was also left out of the XI in Brisbane while Woakes’ performance in Adelaide widened the gap between his impeccable form with the ball in home conditions and away. 

Chris Woakes has struggled with the ball Down Under but is pushing for a recall in Sydney

Veteran seamer Stuart Broad has played just one of the three Ashes matches so far this series

All-rounder Dan Lawrence – who appeared to be an outside contender to replace Ollie Pope in Melbourne before England opted for Jonny Bairstow – also had a net in the glorious Australian sunshine.

But there is currently a dark cloud over the future of Joe Root as captain, but in particular head coach Silverwood following England’s third straight Ashes series defeat Down Under. 

But the 46-year-old still believes he has the ability to lead England, but left fans astounded when he spoke of ‘positives’ following his side’s innings defeat. 

Asked whether England’s players were still responding to his methods, Silverwood told BT Sport: ‘I think they are.

Dan Lawrence – who was an outside contender to replace Ollie Pope at the MCG – also netted

England’s Craig Overton was also put through his paces ahead of next week’s fourth Test

‘We had a good honest chat after the last game [a 275-run loss in Adelaide]. We just have to put performances together and start pushing back [against Australia].

‘It is disappointing for us all and the lads will be feeling that in the dressing room.

‘We had a good honest chat after the last Test, we just have to couple those performances together and find a way of pushing back against this bowling attack and scoring runs.

‘Yesterday we had a little bit of disruption in the morning and I think the way the guys applied themselves on the field and the way the bowling attack rallied and got us back into this game was a credit to them.

‘The way we caught in the last innings was good as well and I think there are positives coming out of this.’

Joe Root’s men surrendered the Ashes within 12 days of the tour Down Under beginning




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