Giles ponders long term future

English spinner Ashley Giles admits his cricketing career may be over, with the news that any further attempted comebacks may have long term effects.

Giles last played late last year during the 2006/07 Ashes, where he flew home to be with his wife who was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Giles has since undergone hip surgery and will not be able to play again for a few months at the very least.

“I’m in constant touch with surgeons and medical people on my condition about what the long-term implications would be if I went back to cricket,” Giles said.

“It’s very difficult to talk about at the moment because cricket is what I do and what I have done for 20 years almost. It’s great to keep going and say ‘I’ll be fine’ but the chances of a recurrence are very high and I can’t keep going through operations.

“If it’s felt that this will do me damage then I will take that advice and use it because I certainly don’t want to be looking at hip replacements in the near future.”

“The latest injury was a shock as it was a new injury in the same hip. I tore a cartilage in the centre of the hip and it was an absolute kick in the teeth. I was aware straight away that it was something quite serious because it just didn’t go away.”

Giles has played in 54 Tests and 62 ODIs for England, taking 143 and 55 wickets respectively.