Silverwood aiming to 'future-proof' Essex

Chris Silverwood returns to Essex with a remit that includes the women's team and youth cricket

Chris Silverwood says one of the main challenges of his return to Essex is to "future-proof" the club in a changing cricket landscape.

Silverwood has taken up the post of director of cricket at Chelmsford seven years after he left the county to become the England fast bowling coach.

He went on to be head coach of both England and Sri Lanka, before returning to the County Ground in November in the new role.

Currently in the United Arab Emirates for the ILT20 tournament, Silverwood says the post gives him the chance to shape the whole future of the club, as youth and women's cricket also fall under his remit.

That calls for a more strategic approach in a world where new franchises and tournaments seem to spring up all the time, tempting players to 'follow the money'.

"We want to win but we also have to future-proof Essex as well," he told BBC Essex Sport. "How do we make sure we're producing Essex players for a long time to come?

"For me, that's a win, if we see Essex boys coming through from youth groups, through the academies and ultimately to play first-class cricket for us and help us win silverware."

Essex all-rounder Paul Walter is also out in the UAE taking part in ILT20, so Silverwood is keeping one eye on his progress but, with some of the world's best players currently in the Persian Gulf, he is also seeking to recruit.

The growth of such leagues provides opportunities but also challenges for county cricket.

Silverwood said: "Everything moves on and one of the first things I need to do is make sure I've got to grips with everything that's around the circuits, how things work.

"The way players see the landscape of cricket now is certainly one of the things that has changed. There are so many opportunities and other places to play cricket at the moment, all around the world, that players are looking at now because it's very lucrative to some of them.

"It turns their head and they want to play in these big competitions, so there's an element of 'how does county cricket co-exist with these competitions?' and how do we get the best out of our players when we do have them at home."

"Ultimately we want to produce England cricketers so how do we help youngsters coming through to be ready for international cricket?"

Essex will also have one of eight Tier One clubs in the new women's professional structure this year, giving Silverwood another important task, and one which he says he is relishing.

"The women's side of the game is exciting and growing so quickly at the moment," he added.

"I've seen the excitement around Chelmsford. I've been to the sessions being run there at the moment and there's so much energy and enthusiasm around the women's game, and so much interest from investors as well."