Panesar spurs Giles on

Ashley Giles is relishing the competition fellow spinner Monty Panesar provides

Ashley Giles admits the emergence onto the international stage of fellow spinner Monty Panesar has heightened his enthusiasm for a return to the England squad.

Giles, 33, faces a battle for selection this winter against Australia with fellow slow left-armer Panesar.

Now that Ashes hero Giles is approaching full fitness after 10 months out of action with a hip injury, the England selectors must choose between the pair or pick both.

“I've got a new enthusiasm about my cricket and some of it's down to Monty because it gives you an extra edge to want to come back,” Giles said.

“There are always moments when you think: 'This bloke's bowling well and he's in my place in the team.'

“But you've got to be realistic. Monty's different and the public love him. To win Test matches England need to take 20 wickets and he's been a big part of that this summer.

“I think I can learn things from him and hopefully he can learn some stuff from me as well.”

Panesar has taken 32 wickets in 10 Tests, while Giles has 140 victims in 52 appearances.

There is a chance Giles could play in the ICC Champions Trophy, should England opt to use a specialist spinner, and he is optimistic of being fully fit in time for the tournament in India.

“The specialist who performed my last operation is very pleased and I am progressing well,” Giles told the Daily Telegraph.

“I'm bowling in the nets again but not quite off my full run-up. I'm probably at about 90% fitness at the moment and I'm confident of being fully fit by the end of this month.”