Blackwell to replace Giles for Pakistan one-day series by AFP

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Player:	AF Giles, ID Blackwell
Event:	England in Pakistan 2005/06

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DateLine: 26th November 2005

 

All-rounder Ian Blackwell will replace left-arm spinner Ashley Giles in the England squad for next month's five one-day internationals against Pakistan, an official said Saturday.

 

Giles will return home after the third and final Test finishes here on December 3 to have surgery on a long-standing hip cartilage problem.

 

"The decision to withdraw Giles from the one-day squad has been taken with a view to improving his chances of being fit for the tour of India which is scheduled in late February," team spokesman Andrew Walpole said in a statement.

 

The one-day series begins here on December 10.

 

England's chairman of selectors David Graveney said Blackwell has had opportunities with the one-day squad before and the injury to Giles had created another opening for him, the statement added.

 

Blackwell, 27, has played 23 one-dayers. He played his last match against New Zealand at home in 2004. He has taken 15 wickets with his left-arm spin and has scored 291 runs at an average of 16.16.

 

The selectors also decided Ian Bell would be on standby to join the one-day squad should captain Michael Vaughan miss the one-day series due to a knee injury, the statement said.

 

Marcus Trescothick will continue to deputise as captain if Vaughan is unavailable.

 

Vaughan missed his team's 22-run defeat in the first Test at Multan after twisting his right knee during the warm-up game, but recovered in time to lead the side in the drawn second Test at Faisalabad.

 

England trail 1-0 in the three-Test series.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)