England dilemma no.5 – Giles, or someone fit?

Ashley Giles’ long-running groin injury turned into a blessing in disguise for England, enabling them to unearth Monty Panesar, who is already a better bowler, even though he is ten years younger. Monty played as the sole spinner all summer, but a second one is needed for Australia, to play one, two, or, at a pinch, three Tests.

Shane Warne has said that he would pick both Giles and Panesar. It’s an appealing prospect: one can bat a bit, field well and bore the odd batsman out from over the wicket, and the other can take out top players with his orthodox ripper. They are both slow left-armers, but there the resemblance ends; as when Langer and Hayden open the batting together, what looks like a duplication would actually be a study in contrasts. But Giles has been out all year, and punts are already being taken on Flintoff and possibly Trescothick: can England afford another? Wouldn’t they be better off with Jamie Dalrymple, who has shown plenty of Giles-like grit in his first two one-day series?

The selectors will be dead tempted to go for Giles, and with good reason, because it isn’t a big risk. The only Test where the second spinner will definitely be needed, Sydney, is the final one. (Even there, England played only one slow bowler last time, and won. Pub-quiz veterans will know that it was Richard Dawson.) Giles, with his street wisdom and stoical demeanour, will bring plenty to what Duncan Fletcher slyly calls the party.