Giles on course for Ashes return

Ashley Giles chats to the media in Ahmedabad © Getty Images

Ashley Giles, England's spinner who has been out of action for almost a year, has said that he remains confident that he will be fit enough to play some part in the forthcoming Ashes series.

Giles is in India with the England one-day side at the request of Duncan Fletcher, the coach, and although he has been fulfilling the role of net bowler, he has at least been turning his arm over, which is something in itself. After three operations on his hip and not a ball bowled in anger since November 2005, it surprised many when he was included in the Ashes squad in the first place.

"I'm in the best shape I've been in a decade, and I want to get back in the team," Giles told reporters in Ahmedabad. "There's frustration that you're not playing. The good thing is that I am thinking about how I am bowling rather than worrying about my hip. If both of our spinners here went down, I could play. I would be pretty stiff afterwards but that would be through playing again."

If Giles does return then it raises a major selection issue. Does he return in place of Monty Panesar , as he adds superior batting and fielding to the equation? "It depends on the team balance," Giles admitted. "If Monty plays ahead of me, I'll support him, and I would expect the same back from him, and I know I'd get it. When you go to Australia, you have to play together. You cannot afford to have any divisions in the side because those are lethal.

"It might sound soppy to say this, but as cricketers we're very lucky to be doing this job. I've worked out that I'd done pretty well in my career ... but I was still desperate to get back and India was my opportunity. I've got my foot in the door."

And Giles also rubbished suggestions made by Geoffrey Boycott that it was time for Fletcher to step aside. "I haven't played under any other coach who tries to look for newer ways to improve a team's game more than Duncan Fletcher. To use the words 'stale' and 'complacent' is ridiculous. He has a huge amount to offer this team. We all come under criticism, some valid and some taken to heart. I don't think this is valid at all.

"Duncan does not get a lot of praise from a certain individual [Boycott] when the team does well ... it comes down then to the team and the captain. But when we do badly, it always seems to be the coach's fault. Duncan is a strong guy who still has a lot to offer. I don't know another coach who thinks so much about new ways to do things."