England head coach Chris Silverwood supports earlier start time for future Tests: "It wouldn't be very difficult to make it happen"

Amid reports 10:30 am starts could be deployed for the third Test against Pakistan, calls for the ECB to act have swelled

• TURBERVILL: Red-ball season needs depth, Captain Broad and TMS asleep at the wheel
• England hopeful of recalling Test players for Australia

Chris Silverwood, the England head coach, wants to see earlier start times for Tests beginning with the concluding match of the series against Pakistan starting on Friday.

Bad light and rain meant just 134.3 overs were possible in the drawn second Test at The Ageas Bowl - leading to the ECB considering changing the playing conditions to ensure more action is possible.

The alterations could mean play starting at 10:30 am if time is lost in the match in Southampton, instead of it being tagged on to the end of a day.

"I've had no official word that it will happen," Silverwood told the media. "In my opinion, it would be a good idea. I know there is chat around it so we'll wait and see they come back with. There would be no complaints from us if it happened.

"We're all here anyway. It is not like any of us are travelling. It wouldn't be very difficult to make it happen. If there were spectators you would feel for them as well. 

"If you got out there half an hour earlier they would make the effort to get the cricket on. There are a number of solutions that we need to look at and we'll take it from there."

The actions of both the umpires Richard Illingworth and Michael Gough, as well as the ground staff at the home of Hampshire have been criticised, but the conversation has moved to finding a solution to the constant delays.

Switching to a more visible pink ball or changes to the bad light rule have been suggested since the frustrating second Test, which leaves England 1-0 up.

"There is a lot of chat in the dressing room amongst the lads about possible solutions," added Silverwood. "There are a few we could look at. A possible change of the colour of the ball, whether pink is the answer I'm not sure but they could use a lighter shade of red.

"The earlier start time makes a lot of sense to me. We have a period at the start of the day and we try and fit it in at the end when we know the light is going to be an issue. The earlier start time would be perfectly acceptable, everyone would buy into it and it would make perfect sense.

"Could we get into a scenario where the floodlights provide a minimum standard of light? I'm not an expert but could that be achieved? It is something we should be looking at. We want to play as much cricket as possible and keep the guys. That's what we're all here for."

For unrivalled coverage of the county season, subscribe to The Cricketer and receive four issues for £15