Chris Silverwood resigns as Sri Lanka head coach

Silverwood, who had been in charge since April 2022, cited personal reasons for tendering his resignation, which came after a disappointing showing from his side at the T20 World Cup

Former England head coach Chris Silverwood has resigned from the same role with Sri Lanka.

Silverwood, who had been in charge since April 2022, cited personal reasons for tendering his resignation, which came after a disappointing showing from his side at the T20 World Cup.

Sri Lanka were beaten in the group stage by South Africa and Bangladesh to be knocked out in the group stage, this coming after a poor 50-over World Cup last winter, which saw Silverwood's charges finish ninth, missing out on next year's Champions Trophy in the process.

"Being an international coach means long periods away from loved ones," said Silverwood, who was previously England's head coach during the pandemic, which came with many difficult challenges on the road.

"After lengthy conversations with my family and with a heavy heart, I feel it is now time for me to return home and spend some quality time together," he added.

"I would like to thank the players, coaches, backroom staff, and management of the SLC for their support during my time in Sri Lanka. Without your support, none of the success would have been possible.

^{Silverwood in conversation with Sanath Jayasuriya (Ishara S Kodikara/AFP via Getty Images)}

"It has been a real honour for me to be part of Sri Lanka Cricket and I will be taking away many fond memories."

As well as their World Cup struggles, Sri Lanka did win the T20 Asia Cup in 2022 and reached the final of the 50-over equivalent in 2023; Silverwood also oversaw a home Test series victory over Australia.

His next move is likelier to be closer to home; were Ottis Gibson to depart Yorkshire at the expiry of his contract at the end of the season, Silverwood, a former Yorkshire seamer, would no doubt be in the running.

Mahela Jayawardene, who served as a consultant coach on Silverwood's backroom staff, has also resigned. Sri Lanka Cricket praised his work in implementing "significant changes to the structure of the national team ecosystem and the high-performance centre".

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