Ashley Giles

[Seamer]

Paoli69

You would need an Engishman to answer the first, but i have a possible answer to the second. I think it is because there are a lot of quality left hand batsmen around at the moment that have the advantage of hitting with the spin and i dont think the players that you mentioned have an effective wrong-un (or doosra if you prefer)

[Pete]

Originally Posted by Paoli69

1. Why is Ash Giles nicknamed "Gilo the King of Spain". I saw the Barmy Army hold up a Spanish flag with "Gilo is our king" written across it.

Hehehe. His county team had some mugs made of him that were supposed to have Ashley Giles The King of Spin, on the side. There was a misprint It said Ashley Giles The King of Spain.

[Teatime FatCat]

I'm happy to say that I have been a Gilo basher in the past, and still remain unconvinced of his ability.

The bare facts are that he's the best we've got, and being a run-of-the-mill finger-spinner in modern test cricket is no fun!

However, given the choice he is not a better option than Vettori, Rafique or possibly even Price. The reason why is this ridiculous over the wicket stuff. Yes, yes, it is a perfectly respectable, restricting tactic and he once got Tendulkar and Lara out doing it - it doesn't mean it's the main way to bowl, and you certainly do not start a spell by doing it!

He will not win test matches by doing this, and he will not consistently pick up wickets. It really infuriates me - the three spinners mentioned above hardly ever do it, and are the better bowlers for it.

Previous England captains ruined Tunell by making him do this, and they've done the same with Gilo.

Think about it - what's the message you send out when you bring out Ashley and set him up from over the wicket from his very first ball of test!

England would not consistently pick a seamer for his ability to consistently restrict runs and not bother about wickets! Also, Ashley did not bowl well in the last test, and he did not restrict runs. I watched him closely and there were a lot of long hops and full bungers - so that also negates this dull tactic!

SORT IT OUT YOU BUNGLING OAFS!!!

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Teatime FatCat

England would not consistently pick a seamer for his ability to consistently restrict runs and not bother about wickets! Also, Ashley did not bowl well in the last test, and he did not restrict runs. I watched him closely and there were a lot of long hops and full bungers - so that also negates this dull tactic!

SORT IT OUT YOU BUNGLING OAFS!!!

Well that told us,this has really got your tail wagging TTFC, but of course you are wrong, you silly pussy.

Flintoff bowled for a while just to restrict runs, he did this by bowling just back of a length, and was difficult to score from.

It is only of late he has been used as a strike bowler, and even now, if runs are coming a bit to quick, Vaugan always tosses the ball to Flintoff and Giles.

[Teatime FatCat]

Fair do's The Ernster, however Freddie is only one of 4 seamers normally, and where conditions allow, there are 3 other guys who could take wickets whilst he restricts. Gilo is the only spinner, and I don't think that right now he would go around the wicket, even in helpful conditions!

[flanflinger]

TTFC,

I actually think that Giles uses going over as both a defensive and attacking option. I too would like him to bowl round the wicket more often, but his line on the leg stump and turning past the bat, is not the negative outside the leg-stump line it used to be and actually is very difficult for the right-hander to face.

As an off-spinner , I always thought I should be coming round to the left-handers, but recently I have been advised that bowling over and spinning the ball past the bat, is very difficult for the left-hander to face. And I now prefer it to bolwing round to Lefties.

I would not critsise him for taking Lara's wicket bowling over the stumps, as that is definatly not a negative tactic. (over the wicket to a left-hander)

[Goatman]

Originally Posted by Teatime FatCat

Fair do's The Ernster, however Freddie is only one of 4 seamers normally, and where conditions allow, there are 3 other guys who could take wickets whilst he restricts. Gilo is the only spinner, and I don't think that right now he would go around the wicket, even in helpful conditions!

Wait on - if this AF Giles? or a different one?

AF Giles took 3/146, 4/108, 3/113, 9/122, 9/210 and 6/116 in the last 2 series (SA and WI; 6 matches total; I'm excluding Durban - the back injury clearly affected his bowling in both innings*). Only the first 2 (Port Elisabeth and Cape Town) was the game played on a helpful surface. The 2 9-fers were at Edgbaston and Lords! Not exactly raging bunsens of pitches! Galle or Kandy they are not!

That means (again, excluding Durban) he's taken 34 wickets for 815 runs - an average of 23.5.

Really crap figures those. Really negative. What we need is a bowler who can take wickets!



*1 for 84; changes his average to 25.7.

[Paoli]

Good figures. Still itd be interesting to see how he does in the Ashes

[Teatime FatCat]

Yeah, interesting question Paoli - unless he bowls around the wicket more often, and tries to be more attacking, I don't think he'll make it through the Ashes series!

[Teatime FatCat]

Goaty, those are in fact quite impressive figures, and shows he is in a purple patch. However, from the pictures I have seen I don't think he's bowled well against the SA batters, who are vastly inferior to the Aussies - therefore, I can't see him causing them any problems.

Also, it's worth considering that although his bowling average is very close to both Vettori and Price's and he's taken the same amount of 5 fors as Rafique and Price he actually takes 1 wicket less per test than the other three mentioned. Continuing on my completely irrational rant - if he bowled around the wicket as much as the other three do - then he would take more wickets!

Go on prove me wrong!!!!!!