Ashes winner Giles set to retire

The Oval, 9-13 August 2007
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606 debate | Mobile scorecards England spinner Ashley Giles is set to retire on Friday because of a hip problem, BBC Sport understands.

The Warwickshire star, 34, was a member of the 2005 Ashes-winning team but then missed most of 2006 through injury.

He returned to play in the first two Tests in Australia but came back home early to be with his ill wife Stine.

A third operation ruled him out this season and the left-armer has decided to call it quits after taking 143 wickets in 54 Test matches.

He said in July he was contemplating retirement, with the knowledge that by attempting to play on he would have been in further pain.

"The underlying thing is that you never know how much long-term damage you are doing," Giles explained.

"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, who also played 62 one-day internationals, taking 55 wickets in the process, has been preparing for a life outside of the game by doing commentary work on BBC Radio.

At the start of his England career, he was a vital component in the series wins in Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 2000-01.

After a less productive period, in which injuries began to affect his rhythm, he was prolific during the 2004 summer, and featured in 11 Tests in succession which England won.

He produced a key spell in the 2005 Ashes victory at Edgbaston, taking 3-78 in 26 accurate overs as Australia were bowled out for 308, handing England a vital lead of 99.

With the bat, he was often hard to dislodge and enjoyed flaying the ball over gully.

He put on 109 with Kevin Pietersen in the final Test of the 2005 Ashes, a decisive partnership which secured the series for England.