Ashley Giles did not have the most fluent bowling action going around and he wasn’t able to turn the ball a great deal, although at 6 feet 4 inches (193 cm), he was able to use his height to extract prodigious bounce from the surface. As a right-handed batter, Giles scored three first-class hundreds, but his highest international score was 59, an innings that helped England secure The Ashes in 2005.
Between late 2000 and 2006, when Monty Panesar burst on the international scene, Giles was England’s first-choice spin bowler even though he was constantly having to prove his credentials. In fact, Giles considered retirement before a match-winning 9-wicket haul against the West Indies gave him the confidence to perform at the big stage.
Following his playing career Giles has serves as white-ball Head Coach and Director of Cricket for England, as well as holding similar roles as county level with Warwickshire and Lancashire. In 2023 he joined Worcestershire County Cricket Club as chief executive.
Happy birthday, Ashley Giles! 🎂
⏪ Throwing it back to his incredible 5-57 against West Indies in 2004 🖐️#EnglandCricket pic.twitter.com/Pb5oSM2kte
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) March 19, 2024
