England cricket coach to leave New Zealand after bereavement

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said Silverwood would depart on Saturday after day two of the second Test in Hamilton.

AFP

Wellington 27 November, 2019 05:38 IST

AFP

Wellington 27 November, 2019 05:38 IST

Joe Root, Chris Silverwood and Ben Stokes | Photo Credit: Getty Images

England coach Chris Silverwood will leave his team's tour of New Zealand early because of a family bereavement, officials said on Wednesday.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said Silverwood would depart on Saturday after day two of the second Test in Hamilton.

Following a family bereavement, England Head Coach Chris Silverwood will return to England after day two of the second Test match at Seddon Park on Saturday November 30. pic.twitter.com/uyfIHkXFn5
— England and Wales Cricket Board (@ECB_cricket) November 26, 2019

“Assistant coaches Graham Thorpe and Paul Collingwood will assume responsibility of team affairs alongside Test captain Joe Root for the remainder of the New Zealand tour,” it tweeted.

The New Zealand tour is Silverwood's first in charge of England after he was named as Trevor Bayliss' replacement in October.

Silverwood's team was trounced by an innings and 65 runs in the first Test and rocked by paceman Jofra Archer's revelation that a spectator at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval racially abused him after he was dismissed late in the match.

The ECB did not specify the nature of Silverwood's bereavement.