Ashley Giles has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket with immediate effect, citing the recurrent hip injury as the principle reason. The highpoint of Giles’ career was being a member of the England squad to regain the Ashes in 2005, playing a crucial role in a stand with Kevin Pietersen in the final, series-sealing, match at the Oval.
Giles was an oft-lambasted cricketer, especially in the follow-up Ashes series, where Fletcher preferred him over Monty Panesar in the opening couple of games of the series, which sealed England’s 5-nil Ashes-losing whitewash. Criticism of “Gilo” was arguably unfair, considering that …read more

There’s no disputing it. It has been said for months now – Monty Panesar should have been in the squad ahead of Giles. Heck, I’m struggling to remember the last person, besides Fletcher, who actually backs Giles’ selection. But seeing as Fletcher is in charge, Giles got the nod, Panesar got the drinks tray, and England are 2-nil down in an Ashes series.
And despite Monty not getting the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, which is a travesty in my book, it doesn’t matter because Fletcher cannot possibly ignore the boomingly loud voice from those people who are as …read more

Wow, there are some angry people out there. No more than a nanosecond after England snatched defeat in the 2nd test of the Ashes, and the hands are out and the gloves most definitely are off. Visit any sports website, news website, forum, messageboard, chatroom and pretty much any blog and the vultures are already tearing in to anything and everything England. People are simply up in arms over the debacle. Ben Dirs, live commenting on the match, finished with:

Jones drops an inside edge off Anderson. I’m not bothered, I don’t even like cricket. Hussey then swings Anderson away for …read more

Ex-England spinner Part-time England spinner Rubbish England spinner Injured England spinner Ashley Giles has said he’s confident of playing in Australia this winter. He’s currently out in India with the Champions Trophy squad, finishing his recuperation from a serious knee injury.
A knee injury that has kept him from playing for the best part of a year. That’s right – no cricket in a year. It’s bad enough that Michael Vaughan thinks he’s going to be available to play, but now Gilo as well?
That’s not to say he’s a shoe-in as newboy Monty Panesar has earned his wings and fortunately …read more

You’d think going away for a week might turn up something interesting to talk about. I’m not sure why you’d think that, but it’s possible you might think it. I certainly thought it. And maybe I’m being too critical, but it seems like a same old run-of-the-mill cricketing week has passed. For starters, England thrashed Pakistan in the 2nd Test at Old Trafford. I’m not saying England thrashing Pakistan is typical OR run of the mill, but the responses to it have been typical. Hurrah for the emphatic win, certainly – Alastair Cook and Ian Bell both posted more centuries …read more