Silverwood is back with the squad after missing the drawn fourth Test in Sydney because of Covid-19.

Asked if he would like Silverwood, 46, to remain in charge, Root said: "Yes, I would."

He added: "It was a difficult week for the group of players with him not being around.

"But the performances we put in during the first three games, I feel we've let him and the coaches down to a degree. We've not played anywhere near the level we're capable of."

England suffered nine Test defeats in 2021, including some heavy losses in a one-sided Ashes series.

They travel to face West Indies for a three-Test series in March before hosting New Zealand, India and South Africa in the English summer.

Silverwood has been in his role since October 2019, but has had to shuffle his resources because of Covid bubbles, player welfare and injuries.

"He's very calm, he has the respect of the guys and he's got a desperation to see everyone do well or up-skill the players as best he can," Root said

"He's had a very difficult time of it with the environments we've been living in, trying to manage winning matches with bubble environments away from home, and multi-format players trying to prepare for an Ashes and a World Cup.

"For a long time we've not been able to put our best teams out because we've been constantly trying to make sure from a mental wellbeing point of view everyone is looked after properly, because of the schedule we've dealt with over two years."

Harris dropped, Khawaja to open and Head returns

Marcus Harris averages just 25 in 14 Tests

Australia have confirmed struggling batter Marcus Harris will not play in the day-night fifth Test, with Usman Khawaja replacing him as David Warner's opening partner.

Khawaja, who made two centuries in Sydney, moves up the order to accommodate the return of Travis Head, who missed the fourth Test because of Covid.

Harris, 29, has passed 50 only once in the first four Tests, making a dogged 76 in Australia's innings victory in Melbourne in the third Test.

"I think he knew was it was coming," Cummins said. "The message to Harry is we think he is going really well. It's really tough on him.

"It's not too often someone comes in and hits two hundreds in the same game. But Marcus has been really good. He's been growing with each game. He was a huge part in how we won that MCG Test with a crucial innings.

"So he's certainly part of the future. We'll keep investing in him."