Silverwood returns to English cricket in Oval Invincibles role

Chris Silverwood has been appointed to his first job in English cricket since he was sacked as England’s head coach, replacing Azhar Mahmood as one of Tom Moody’s assistants at defending champions Oval Invincibles in the Hundred.

Silverwood lost his job in the aftermath of England’s 4-0 defeat in Australia in early 2022 but was only out of work for two months, joining Sri Lanka on a two-year contract. That was later extended to include the recent T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the US, but Silverwood resigned shortly after their group-stage exit, citing a reluctance to spend long periods away from home.

He will now join Moody’s staff at the Invincibles for 2024, ahead of their – and the Hundred’s – opening matchday on Tuesday, against Birmingham Phoenix. Mahmood resigned from his role when he took up a full-time role with Pakistan earlier this year, and Silverwood will join Matt Walker and Jim Troughton in the men’s coaching staff.

James Foster, who lost his job as Northern Superchargers coach last year after they won the wooden spoon in the men’s competition, will also return to the Hundred this summer. He has replaced Paul Collingwood as one of Trevor Bayliss’ assistants at London Spirit, with Collingwood unavailable for the start of the tournament while on Test duty with England.

The Spirit have added two more assistant coaches to the backroom staff of their women’s team, who are coached by the Australian Ashley Noffke. Ali Maiden, the Yorkshire men’s assistant coach, and Sunrisers’ Marc Broom have both been appointed, and Maiden could be a contender to replace Noffke when he steps down at the end of this season.

The most notable coaching appointment in the Hundred this year saw Andrew Flintoff replace Foster as Superchargers head coach in the men’s competition. His first match as a head coach is against Trent Rockets at Headingley on Friday night.