News

Giles forced to announce retirement

Ashley Giles has finally admitted defeat in his battle to overcome a serious hip injury and announced his immediate retirement

Cricinfo staff
09-Aug-2007


Ashley Giles has called time on his career - but has had some career moments to savour © Getty Images
Ashley Giles has finally admitted defeat in his battle to overcome a serious hip injury and announced his immediate retirement.
"I had hoped to make a full recovery and return to playing over the next few months but the advice I have received means that there is no chance of me returning to cricket at any level," he said. "I would have liked to have left cricket at the very top still playing the game that I have always loved and whether it be on the village green or Test arena. But I have no regrets.
Giles was an instrumental part of the England Ashes-winning side in 2005 - an event he described as "a magical summer [that] was truly a dream realised" - but has hardly played since the final match of that series. He withdrew from that winter's tour of Pakistan after playing two Tests, and was then picked for the 2006-07 Ashes despite not having played in almost a year.
He was included in the side for the first two Tests but pulled out of the tour after his wife became ill. In 2006 he underwent two hip operations and another on his groin, and in April 2007 he underwent surgery for a third time on his hip in a last-ditch bid to save his career.
In 54 Tests between 1998 and 2006-07 he took 143 wickets at 40.60 and scored 1421 runs at 20.89. He is expected to pursue a career in the media and has been working regularly for BBC Radio this summer.
"Ashley's retirement is very sad news and everyone in the England dressing room will miss his professionalism and, of course, his sense of humour," said Michael Vaughan. "In my view, Ashley has to be one of the most underrated cricketers ever to pull on an England shirt. He was a key member of the England Test side which won six successive Test series and I know how much his team-mates valued his contributions to our success.
"What also stands out for me is his strength of character. He went through difficult periods earlier in his career where he had long-term injuries but his determination to recover from them and regain his international place is an object lesson not just to other cricketers but to any professional sportsman."