Unsung Giles leaves England void

For years England's selectors were desperate to find the next Ian Botham, until Andrew Flintoff came along.

Now, with the premature retirement of Ashley Giles, they will be searching for another type of all-rounder.

Not an explosive match-changing batsman or frontline wicket-taking bowler like "Beefy" or "Freddie", but a number eight who can contribute with bat and ball, and play the role of the unsung hero.

Critics derided him as a bits-and-pieces player who bowled negatively, but his supporters insisted he was an invaluable team player who helped England enjoy a great run of success.

Giles, who has been forced to call time on his career at the age of 34 because of a persistent hip injury, was no Shane Warne with the ball in hand, nor even Monty Panesar for that matter.

He is still unforgiven in some quarters for the negative tactic of bowling over the wicket into the rough to India's Sachin Tendulkar under Nasser Hussain's captaincy.

But for years England struggled to unearth quality spinners and Giles, who achieved the relatively rare double of 100 Test wickets and 1,000 runs, was the best around.

He knew his limits but played his part in away series triumphs in Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 2001, England's six successive series victories and, of course, the 2005 Ashes triumph.

Indeed, you could argue that without him, the incredible scenes witnessed at this ground two years ago, when the famous little urn was regained, would never have happened.

First he helped England take a 2-1 series lead with a crucial knock as they held off Warne and Brett Lee to win the fourth Test by three wickets.

Then came his greatest triumph here in Kennington.

With England fighting to hold off the Australians, the Warwickshire man joined Kevin Pietersen at the crease for a match-saving partnership on that memorable final day.

Pietersen took the headlines with a big century but Giles dug in and battled away for almost three hours to a Test-best 59 which helped seal England's first Ashes series win in 18 years.

It takes real character to produce your best when it is needed most - something his team-mates readily acknowledge.

Skipper Michael Vaughan hailed Giles as "the most under-rated player ever to pull on an England shirt" and Graham Thorpe described his former team-mate as the ultimate team man.

"That Oval Test would have to be the greatest day of his cricketing life," Thorpe told Radio Five Live.

"Throughout the years Ashley has been such a big part of England's success. He could score crucial runs as a number eight batsman and was a great team man.

"He took on the role of supporting the four seamers by blocking an end up when it was needed and when the pitch turned he came into his own and took vital wickets."

Former captain Graham Gooch felt Giles did not receive the praise he deserved for his part in the 2005 win.

He told BBC Sport: "Ashley was an influential member of the England team for several years and was an unsung member of that 2005 Ashes-winning side.

"While Vaughan, Flintoff and Pietersen took all the headlines, Ashley Giles went about his business in an understated and professional manner."

Giles' retirement means England fans will never see the 2005 Ashes side play together again, while injuries have sidelined Flintoff, Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard and Simon Jones for long spells.

In their absence, a new generation of bowlers like Panesar and Chris Tremlett have impressed.

But as the defeat at Trent Bridge illustrated - when the tail collapsed for next to nothing - they still have some way to go to fill the batting void left at number eight.