Giles returns to England squad

A good week for England has just got better with the news that Ashley Giles has recovered from his hip injury and will rejoin their NatWest Series squad ahead of tomorrow's encounter with Bangladesh at Trent Bridge.

Giles, who was in sparkling form for Warwickshire at the start of the season, was forced to sit out of the two Tests against Bangladesh after suffering a cartilage problem in his right hip.

His place was taken by Gareth Batty, but it soon became clear that his pivotal presence was being missed by England. Batty didn't bat or bowl in the first Test and was not considered for either of England's first two matches of the NatWest Series.

Batty has now returned to county duty with Worcestershire, while Giles's return will enable England to field a more balanced side, with the extra batsman - probably Vikram Solanki - making way at No. 8. In the opening two games, England's part-time bowlers, Michael Vaughan and Paul Collingwood, avoided serious punishment but lacked Giles's steady guile.