FORMER ENGLAND SPINNER IS CRICKET SOCIETY FEBRUARY GUEST SPEAKER

Former England spinner, Ashley Giles MBE, will be the replacement guest speaker at Worcestershire Cricket Society’s February winter cricket evening.

Giles is replacing Dean Headley at the February 14 meeting in the Graeme Hick Pavilion, starting at 7.30pm.

Headley brought forward his Society engagement from February until October 2022 as a late stand-in for Monty Panesar.

Droitwich-based Giles played in 54 Tests, picking up 143 wickets, and 62 ODIs for England and spent 14 years as a player with Warwickshire before being forced to retire in 2007 because of a hip problem.

The 49-year-old played a key part in England’s 2005 memorable Ashes triumph.

Giles scored the winning runs in the thrilling fourth Test win at Trent Bridge to give England a 2-1 advantage.

He then helped to save the final Test at The Oval when featuring a century stand with Kevin Pietersen and making his highest Test score of 59.

The previous year Giles had match analysis in back to back Tests against the West Indies of 9-210 at Lord’s and 9-122 at Edgbaston.

He was a Wisden Cricketer Of The Year for 2005.

In total, Giles scored 5346 first class runs, hitting three centuries, and 2089 List A runs.

He has also had terms as Director Of Cricket and Sport Director at Warwickshire, Cricket Director-Head Coach of Lancashire and ECB Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket.

Non-Society members can attend on February 14 for an admission charge of £5.