England spinner takes spotlight

KINGSTON: The focus inevitably falls on pace bowling in the Caribbean as England face the once mighty West Indies in their own backyard with the first Cable and Wireless cricket Test beginning tomorrow. But it’s not any of the home or visiting team’s quartet of fast bowlers who enter the match as the leading bowler on either side. England left-arm spinner Ashley Giles’ 83 wickets in 30 Tests makes him the most prolific bowler going into the four-match series. But the Warwickshire man is happy to be flying under the radar as the English seek to end 36 years of West Indian dominance on home soil against them.

“We’re all going to be in the spotlight, especially when (West Indies captain Brian) Lara comes to the crease,” Giles said. “But it’s been good in a way that the pressure has been taken off my shoulders after the first half of the winter dominated in the subcontinent.” The 30-year-old said that after success in Sri Lanka, he should be pushing ahead and dominating again. “I didn’t come here for a 10-week holiday,” Giles said. “We all knew before we left England that the pitches here are different to what they were a decade ago and that spin was definitely going to play a part. “Whether it will or not, we still are yet to see in this series,” he added. “I’m obviously going to do everything I can to make sure that’s the case.” The West Indies declared their hand early by omitting the team’s only specialist spinner, Dave Mohammed, in choosing the 13-man squad. The home team is banking on traditional strength — a four-pronged pace attack — on a pitch with a generous covering of grass.
 
Fidel Edwards and Tino Best are clocking close to 90 miles per hour, while Corey Collymore and Adam Sanford are the work horses. England will use Steve Harmison, Simon Jones, Matthew Hoggard and all-rounder Andrew Flintoff as their speed foursome. “Whether everyone’s talking about the quick bowlers and the bounce and pace of the wicket, personally I feel I have a very important role to play in this test series in this bowling unit,” Giles said. “If I can do that, well I guess it gives us more chance of winning the series.” Giles was encouraged by his progress in England’s warm-ups over the last week when he claimed 10 wickets in the two matches. “It’s great to pick up wickets,” he said. “However ... it’s still important you get a couple of scalps under your belt so it just spurs you on a little bit more.”