Chris Silverwood has been appointed as the head coach of England, ECB announced on Monday. The 44-year-old was an understudy to former head coach Trevor Bayliss for almost two years and saw a promotion following his exit from the backroom staff. Silverwood will take over the charge right from the tour of New Zealand which starts later this month.

“I believe he is what we need to take our international teams forward. He is somebody we know well, but it is his intimate understanding of our structures and systems and his close relationships with Test captain Joe Root and white-ball captain Eoin Morgan that will help us develop our plans for the next few years,” it added.

“We are delighted to confirm Chris as England Men’s Head Coach. We have gone through a thorough process and looked at all the options that were available to us. Chris was the standout candidate,” a statement from ECB read as.

Apart from Silverwood, former India World Cup-winning coach Gary Kirsten, Graham Ford and Alec Stewart – he pulled out from after being called for an interview – were other candidates in the fray. Kirsten was the favourite to take over the job but and also met Ashley Giles, ECB’s Direct of Men’s Cricket, at Lord’s. Multiple reports suggested that his interview did not go down well, that saw Silverwood get the nod.

Silverwood felt thrilled and honoured to be appointed the head coach and said that England are looking forward to making an impact in New Zealand and South Africa. “I am thrilled and honoured to be appointed England Head Coach. I aim to continue the great work that has been done over the past five years and build on our future, especially in the Test arena. I have enjoyed working with the players over the past two seasons, and developing the best crop of talent in the English game,” he said.