Giles to undergo second operation

Ashley Giles, England's veteran spinner, will miss the home series against Sri Lanka but is still hopeful of being fit for Pakistan's visit in July.

Giles, 33, will have routine surgery on his groin, and not his troublesome hip, but expects to return for Pakistan's tour of England, which begins in July. BBC Five Live has learned he has now been diagnosed as having a hernia, which is related to the hip problems that forced him to miss England's tour to India.

"Ashley has developed a defect known as a Gilmore's Groin," confirmed Dr Peter Gregory, the ECB chief medical officer. "This could account for the pain he suffers after he runs. Ashley will undergo surgical repair in the near future. It is hoped that this will enable him to return to cricket later this season."

Giles himself revealed that he was delighted with the diagnosis. He told reporters: "I went back into the specialist's waiting room cheering because I had a hernia and I think everyone in there thought I was mad.

"We had been looking at another hip operation which is a much more major kind of surgery and would have kept me out for much longer. We were looking at three months out, but now I expect to be back and playing in six weeks.

"They've told me I will be running in two weeks and sprinting in three. "I'm much more cheerful and happier because it's been a pretty miserable time out of the game and wondering how things will go."

Giles has not bowled since the Pakistan tour in late 2005 and last month admitted that it was hard to imagine bowling anytime soon. Indeed, at one point there were fears his Test career could be over, and Giles was forced to seek further consultation from London-based specialist Richard Vellar last week.

Giles was hopeful of a return to cricket in mid-June, with the time in between to be used to get back into form. With 140 wickets from 52 Tests, Giles has been a key member of the England side for the past few seasons, and England will be hoping they have not seen the last of him.