Chris Silverwood: How England can address dismal first Test losing run

The four-wicket defeating to the West Indies was the eighth time in 10 multi-match series they started a series with a reverse

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Acknowledging when matches reach the pinch-point will be key to England improving on their poor record at the start of Test series, according to head coach Chris Silverwood.

Defeat by four wickets to West Indies at The Ageas Bowl was the eighth time in the last 10 multi-Test series that England have started on a losing note.

They have not won the first Test since overcoming Sri Lanka in Galle in November 2018.

Ben Stokes' side had plenty of opportunities in Southampton. They looked set for a handsome lead after reaching 249 for 3 in their second innings but lost seven for 64 to set the Windies 200 to win.

That chase looked in trouble when the tourists were reduced to 27 for 3 - John Campbell has also retired hurt - but England let them off the hook. Jermaine Blackwood was dropped three times as the hosts fluffed their lines.

Silverwood believes that establishing when to grasp the nettle in Test matches will help arrest England's poor record going forward.

"It is something that has been spoken about as well and is something that we keep managing to do," said the ex-Essex coach.

"We need to address it and look at how we need to get out of the blocks a little bit quicker. 

"It is about recognising situations like that and making more of them so we put pressure on the opposition rather than putting pressure on ourselves.

"We had the West Indies in that second innings. They put a good spell together with (Shannon) Gabriel and (Alzarri )Joseph, put the pressure on us, and turned the game on its head. Part of it is recognising the key situations of the game where it can pivot. 

"If we do that it will go a long way to winning the first Test match of a series."

Despite trailing 1-0, England can take inspiration from their winter victory in South Africa. Joe Root's men turned around defeat at Centurion to win all three remaining Tests and scoop the series.

"We had a good chat in the dressing room. As you do, you look at areas where you missed opportunities and done well," he added. 

"I try and find the positives and how we'll try and move forward. Equally, South Africa was used as an example of how we can bounce back.

"I've seen a determined look on the player's faces before, in Johannesburg, so hopefully if we play to our potential we'll get in a similar position. But we've got to play well."

^{Shannon Gabriel's spell on the fourth evening swung the momentum of the Test}

Key to turning the series around the regaining the Wisden Trophy will be coping with the searing West Indies pace attack. Jason Holder, who succeeding in taking pace off the ball, and Gabriel, an attacker of the stumps, took 16 wickets between them at The Ageas Bowl using a variety of methods.

"Holder first up I thought he bowled beautifully," explained Silverwood. "His areas were very accurate and he managed to get some movement out of the ball, which made it very difficult for us. I thought he bowled a beautiful spell in our first innings. 

"The one thing Gabriel did was he hit the stumps a lot. For people who hone in on off-stump they're creating chances and if you do it at his pace then it makes the life of a batsman very difficult. 

"It is knowing what to expect from them and how they're going to attack us and challenge us and we've got to be up for that challenge really. We respect it and come through the other side and wait for the bad ball and hit it. A little bit of patience but they do make life difficult. They're tall, they're fast and as we've seen they're very accurate."

"If we look at this game, when we did get on top we did very well. I wouldn't say we made it look easy but we were comfortable. It is just doing that for longer periods of time. Stick to what we're doing for longer periods of time and we'll find a way of getting through those spells. The boys are good enough to do it."

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