Giles admits career doubts

Ashley Giles' England comeback lasted two Tests and he hasn't played any cricket since © Getty Images

Ashley Giles has admitted that he will have to consider the long-term impact to his health before making any more attempts at a comeback. He hasn't played this summer after picking up another hip injury and also missed the entire 2006 season before a brief reappearance during the first two Ashes Tests.

Previously, Giles has been upbeat about returning to action for Warwickshire - and even England - but now a dose of reality seems to have hit home. "The underlying thing is that you never know how much long-term damage you are doing to yourself as well," he said during a Chance to Shine initiative in Birmingham.

"I have never thought it is not worth it, but I have to start thinking about it. If in five years' time they think this will do more damage then I will have to take that advice. I certainly don't want to look at hip replacements.

"It is a difficult time because cricket is what I do and cricket is what I have done for 20 years, but I do have to start thinking about the implications. It is great to keep going and saying to yourself, 'I will be fine', but the chances of recurrence are very high and I can't keep going through operations."

Giles says he is four weeks away from trying to run again and won't be in a position to play for another two or three months. That rules out a return during the current English season and could leave him needing to find some cricket during the winter.

But he adds that whatever happens over the next few months he wants to put 2007 behind him after a series of personal and family problems, that included returning from the Ashes tour to be with his wife, Stine, who suffered a brain tumour.

"An amazing amount has happened over the last few months and not much of it has anything to do with cricket - with Stine, coming back from the Ashes, getting injured again, and having another operation - so it's been a pretty rough 2006/7 and I am looking forward to getting into 2008, now."

After playing cricket at various levels for 20 years Giles says it would be hard to give away, but is proud of the career he has had. "Ultimately, I have played a lot of cricket for my country and cricket has given me everything I have hoped, and if I have to walk away from it soon I will have no regrets."