Ashley Giles says he does not expect a honeymoon period in his new role as England’s one-day coach and admits his side are up against it in India.
Giles has taken over England’s 50 and 20-over sides in a move designed to ease the burden on team director Andy Flower, who will focus on the Test squad.
The former Warwickshire and England spinner takes charge of his first one-day international against the hosts in Rajkot on Friday.
Giles, 39, who earned his coaching spurs by taking the Bears to last season’s LV= County Championship title said: “Let’s not beat around the bush, it is a huge challenge but one the guys should be looking forward to.
“There will be good and bad times and honeymoon periods don’t necessarily last too long. We’ve come here the last two times and lost them both 5-0. We’ve only won one in 18 here so percentages would say we’re up against it, but we’re here to win games of cricket. We’re here to develop and find out more about these guys and if at the end of it we lose the series and each player has moved on 5% through the experience then we’re doing our jobs.”
Giles’ task is made all the harder by the list of absentees for this month with three of England’s most experienced one-day players – Jonathan Trott, James Anderson and Graeme Swann – are all rested, Stuart Broad’s heel injury ruling him out of the first three matches and Jonny Bairstow at home on compassionate leave.
Not concerned
Giles is not concerned about his side’s relative inexperience, though, instead viewing it as a learning period for all concerned.
“The Test team before Christmas was full of guys who had played a lot of cricket, when you have some guys who are lacking experience you need your big guys to step up My job is to take this team forward and that might take time. We are going to look at different players. There are big tournaments coming up where we would hope to have our ‘A team’ all the time, but in between we need to look at some of the younger guys because they are our future. We have to look after our cricketers, particularly with the amount of cricket we have coming up. In the next 12-18 months it is imperative we look after our best players, both physically and mentally. If that means occasionally resting them or rotating them out of the side then that is the way it will be. But wherever there is injury, or rest, or rotation there is opportunity and it’s up to the young guys to show what they can do.” he said.
