ashley giles

Born: 19.03.1973
County: Warwickshire
Tests: 54
Role: Bowler
Bat: Right-hand
Bowl: Left-arm slow
Bat Average: 20.89
Bowl Average: 40.60

The rapid emergence of Monty Panesar has made Ashley Giles something of a forgotten cricketer.

Giles' nagging hip injury has kept him out of contention throughout 2006, and Panesar has come in and quickly established himself in this England team.

Giles has suffered fearful stick from several quarters for his performances, but his contribution to England's re-emergence as a genuine force at Test level should not be overlooked, and now fully recovered from injury he will fight for his place in the side.

Giles has been in danger of becoming better-known for his nicknames than his bowling. Test Match Special's Henry Blofeld famously likened Giles to a wheelie bin, while Spanish flags with "Gilo is our King" emblazoned on them became commonplace after a typo in the Edgbaston shop led to a batch of mugs bearing the legend "Ashley Giles: King of Spain".

But he deserves better. Even when not taking wickets, his bowling is rarely untidy. Seldom has he has failed to exert control from one end, allowing the quick men, England's key wicket-takers, some respite.

And, crucially, he is good enough to bat at number eight in Test cricket. None of England's seamers, or Panesar, offer Giles' quality with the bat.

Indeed, Giles is one of only nine Englishman to have 100 Test wickets and 1,000 Test runs to his name, and he is a sound fielder with a powerful throwing arm and safe hands.

Giles has been written off as a Test cricketer countless times, but has always bounced back, most notably when ripping a big turner between Brian Lara's bat and pad at Lord's in 2004 to pick up his 100th Test victim shortly after considering retiring following a poor tour of the Caribbean.

While Panesar is now England's first-choice spinner, Giles' batting and fielding ability mean he remains a popular option with coach Duncan Fletcher.

And those who question Giles' role in last summer's Ashes win would do well to remember not only his nerveless batting in the closing stages at Trent Bridge but also the fact he removed each of Australia's top eight batsman at least once during the series.

He will never look as natural with the ball in his hand as his younger rival, and will never get the turn and drift that Panesar achieves, but he is a dependable character and popular with his team-mates.

Giles may well be reduced to carrying the drinks unless Panesar breaks down or England opt for two spinners in Sydney, but Ashes-winners should not be written off lightly.