Giles targets England recall

Ashley Giles has set his sights on an England recall through his displays for Warwickshire

Ashley Giles has set himself a double target for the 2007 campaign - to regain his England spot and to help Warwickshire start winning silverware again.

Giles flew home early from England's disastrous Ashes series after his wife, Stine, underwent major surgery to remove a benign brain tumour.

But, much to his disappointment, the spinner also found himself excluded from England's squad for the World Cup in the Caribbean after being named in the initial party of 30.

With Monty Panesar clearly now at the forefront of England's plans, you could forgive Giles for easing gently out of the international picture.

But, though he will miss the start of the season after suffering a recurrence of a hip injury, he is hoping to force himself back into the England reckoning before the summer is out.

Giles said: "I still believe I am good enough to play at international level and I was disappointed not to be going to the World Cup.

"I still have the ambition to play for England and the aim is to put in some performances with Warwickshire this season and see where that takes me.

Captain Dermot Reeve led Warwickshire to success in the 1990s © Getty Images

"I owe my full commitment to Warwickshire, not just to get back into the England side but to try to help Warwickshire have a successful season."

Warwickshire were the dominant force in domestic cricket in the 1990s via the influence of coach Bob Woolmer and innovative skipper Dermot Reeve.

The Edgbaston trophy cupboard was often bulging but success has been less forthcoming in the new Millennium with only the 2002 Benson and Hedges Cup and 2004 County Championship triumphs to show for their efforts.

The first season under New Zealand coach Mark Greatbatch in 2006 failed to live up to expectations.

Now Giles wants the Bears to again be a force to be reckoned with and for the younger players to become major performers for the club.

He said: "We were regarded as the team of the 1990s. But the 1990s is a long way away now and a club of Warwickshire's size, especially given the support and financial backing it gets, should be challenging for more trophies.

"I would like to help them to win a trophy. I think it's fair to say we've under-achieved in recent years. It's time for players in their mid-20s to start taking responsibility. You are not a young player for ever.

"They should be aiming to play at the highest level possible - Test cricket. You can only play your best if you set your goals high and doing that raises standards. You also enjoy the game more."

Ashley Giles has been doing a variety of different exercise regimes © Getty Images

Giles has experienced his first pre-season with Warwickshire for several seasons because of his England commitments but continued to work on his fitness before starting the build-up in earnest to the new campaign.

He said: "I kept myself fit by playing racket ball, running, lifting weights and doing sessions on rowing machines. I'm probably in the best shape I've ever been and I'm raring to go.

"I also haven't done a full pre-season with Warwickshire for about six years and there are quite a few youngsters in the squad who I don't really know. It's been a good opportunity to get to know them."

Giles' enforced break from the game - he was out for a year through injury before his Ashes return prior to flying back - has also renewed his hunger for the game.

He said: "We have been very fortunate to have support from friends and family and made it easier for us to sit down and discuss me playing cricket, which is my job, at some stage again.

"Parts of the winter have been rough but, after being away from the game for a while, you do miss it and I am hungry to be playing again."