Giles delighted by Panesar start
Ashley Giles has welcomed the competition provided by Monty Panesar © Getty Images
Ashley Giles has welcomed the competition from spin rival Monty Panesar and is all the more determined to return for England in the summer when they face home Test series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Frustrated by his failure to overcome a pre-Christmas hip operation, which forced him to miss the one-day series in Pakistan, Giles could easily have bemoaned his luck while he watched Northamptonshire left-arm spinner Panesar make such an impact during the drawn opening Test against India in Nagpur.
Panesar’s match figures of 58-21-131-3, including the prized scalp of Sachin Tendulkar as his first Test wicket, left both coach Duncan Fletcher and stand-in captain Andrew Flintoff full of admiration at the 23-year-old’s display.
“I want to play all the time and I’ve done that pretty much over the last three years,” said Giles.
Giles admits it is frustrating not to be representing England
“It’s frustrating when a young guy like Monty comes in and does well - you hope that’s your position, but now I’ve got to win that position back.
“Monty is a challenge and a threat to me. It’s good to see a young lad do well on his debut because if he’s bowling well then he’s doing well for the team.
“Of course part of you wishes it was you getting the wickets, but at the same time he’s doing a great job for the team and I hope that continues.
“It’s a very tough tour to India and it will be a fantastic effort if we can win that series.”
Giles has claimed 140 wickets in his 52 Tests and was a key member of England’s Ashes-winning line-up last summer, when he hit the winning runs during the fourth Test at Trent Bridge, and is keen to continue his run in the England team for some years to come.
Monty Panesar has been a revelation since making his debut © Getty Images
He concedes, however, the emergence of Panesar and other youngsters like Liam Plunkett could give both himself and the team a major boost as they build-up to the visit to Australia for the next Ashes series at the end of this year.
“You need youngsters coming through and across the board it’s good to see,” said Giles. “We’ve lost four players from the team that won the Ashes last summer and the side has held it’s own.
“We got the best of the draw in the first Test and that’s got to be encouraging that we’re bringing through these young guys who can step into Test cricket and play with confidence.”
But he admitted: “It’s been very frustrating because I don’t want to miss a game. If I was fit I would want to play in as many games as possible for England.
“It’s my job and you’re also giving someone else an opportunity and that’s what’s happened here. I’m just not fit and these situations occur.
Giles hopes to return stronger than before © Getty Images
“I have to get over it and try and get back as quick as I can and come back stronger as well so I can play for a few years yet.”
Giles is training nearly every day to try to overcome the effects of the pre-Christmas surgery but is yet to begin bowling again, which effectively leaves him on the sidelines until the start of the season.
“The hip is still very stiff and I just have to be patient,” he conceded.
“I am training every day and we have just started to incorporate a little bit of cricket in that over the last week with a bit of batting and catching.
“I am not really running a lot still other than jogging up and down the indoor school a couple of times and I am not at a stage where I am bowling yet.
“Everyone keeps saying ‘be patient’ and ‘take your time’, but it is difficult when it’s you in that position and you just want to get on with it.”
Giles was speaking at the launch of an initiative from the Professional Cricketers’ Association at the Drive Test centre in Thatcham, which aims to reduce the risk of car accidents.
Statistics claim 28% of all fatalities on British roads are aged between 20 and 39 and cricket has already had its share of tragedies.
Former Surrey wicket-keeper Graham Kersey died after a car crash in Brisbane 10 years ago, ex-England all-rounder Ben Hollioake was killed after an accident in Perth in March, 2002 while former Yorkshire seconds all-rounder Jamie Hood was seriously injured after a crash in Cape Town six years ago.
In an attempt to prevent any further tragedies, workshops will be staged at every county during the season with every professional cricketer being assessed for their driving and given free further training if required.
“It was terrible what happened to Ben and Graham Kersey and I think perhaps we’ve been lucky as professional cricketers that there haven’t been more fatalities on the road,” added Giles.
“We cover a huge amount of miles as an association every year and a lot of them are done when you’re tired or trying to get some food or some fluids down you. This initiative is all about making sure there are no other tragedies.”
