Born in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, Silverwood was educated at Garforth Comprehensive School in Leeds, and as a right-arm fast-medium pace bowler, made his debut for Yorkshire County Cricket Club in 1993. He played for his native county for thirteen years, and was one of a battery of fast bowlers which the county produced in the late 1990s that included Darren Gough, Ryan Sidebottom, Matthew Hoggard and Steve Kirby. With the club he won the County Championship in 2001 and the C&G Trophy in 2002. Former England bowling coach Bob Cottam once said he was faster than Allan Donald, and he possessed a lively outswinger and hostile bouncer when the conditions suited. He was also known for his stamina, and was noted for his ability to maintain his pace when returning for spells late in the day.

He signed for Middlesex for the 2006 season after playing only six games for Yorkshire in the 2005 season, where he left by mutual consent after sustaining a series of injuries.

Up to the end of the 2006 season, the six-foot one inch paceman had taken 533 first-class wickets in 164 matches at 26.93, with a best of 7 for 93 and 248 List A one day wickets at 24.37 with a best of 5 for 28. Usually a tail-end batsman he was occasionally used as a pinch hitter in one day games.

In 2009 he signed a contract with Harare based franchise Mashonaland Eagles, making his debut against Matabeleland Tuskers.^[2] He was then appointed Head Coach for Mashonaland Eagles.^[3] In 2010 he joined Essex as bowling coach,^[4] and was promoted to the head coach position ahead of the 2016 season.^[5]

He made his Test debut against Zimbabwe in 1996, but he had to wait three years for his next chance, where he struggled to find his usual line and movement in South Africa. His last Test cap was in 2002.

Nicknamed Spoons, Silvers or Chubby. He won the NBC Denis Compton Award in 1996.