Giles takes Warwickshire reins

Ashley Giles © Getty Images

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Former England spinner Ashley Giles has returned to Warwickshire as their new director of cricket just a month after being forced to retire from playing because of a chronic hip injury.

Giles, 34, has joined his former county as successor to Mark Greatbatch, who left by mutual consent with a year remaining on his contract after Warwickshire suffered double relegation in the LV County Championship and NatWest Pro40.

Giles, who joined Warwickshire in 1992, was preferred to his former captain Dermot Reeve for the job.

He has signed a 12-month rolling contract and will now begin the process of assembling his own coaching team.

Giles' last appearance for Warwickshire came in the 2005 C&G Trophy final against Hampshire at Lord's.

He was appointed the county's vice-captain for this season, but did not play any competitive cricket because he suffered a recurrence of his a problem on their pre-season trip to Grenada in March.

Giles' appointment and Greatbatch's departure were confirmed at a press conference at Edgbaston on Tuesday.