Giles's fitness worries remain just that

One of the most contentious selections by England for the Ashes was that of Ashley Giles, who last bowled a ball in anger in November 2005 … almost a year to the day before the first Test at Brisbane is due to get underway. In The Daily Telegraph, Giles looks to put a positive spin (ho ho) on his rehabilitation:

The fact that I have not played any cricket since last November doesn't really concern me. I am a strong believer that if I am bowling well in the nets then I can carry that into a game.

If that was not worrying enough, he then reveals that he’s not exactly at 100% even in the nets:

I'm bowling in the nets again but not quite off my full run-up. I'm probably at about 90 per cent fitness at the moment and I'm confident of being fully fit by the end of this month. Obviously that will come too late for me to play any cricket this season. But I'm going to India with the Champions Trophy squad and that will give me the chance to bowl in the nets and in the middle.

So come November, England will have a choice between someone who looks good in the nets and possibly in a few club matches in India, and Monty Panesar, who has taken 32 wickets in 10 Tests while Giles has been sidelined. What is really worrying is that it is even being discussed …