Ashley Giles committed to Warwickshire

Ambitious Warwickshire coach Ashley Giles admits that, while the England job might appeal to him one day, for now he is committed to the Bears.

Following Warwickshire's County Championship win, their second piece of silverware in three years, he told BBC Sport: "I've never hidden my ambition to one day coach internationally.
"But I've got a lot of work to do here. We're going in the right direction.
"And, of course, England have a very good head coach [in Andy Flower]."
Giles added: "One day, if it happens, then great, but I'm a firm believer in keeping your eye on the ball and doing the day job."

County cricket's double winners

• 1977 - Middlesex were joint county champions, as well as winning the Gillette Cup
• 1987 - Nottinghamshire won the Championship and the Nat West Trophy
• 2006 - Sussex won the Championship and the C& G Trophy

With his other hat on, as one of England's three selectors, Giles, who took 143 wickets in 54 Test appearances for his country between 1998 and 2006, is in an ideal position to keep his eye on affairs at international level.

But it is his success at county level that most concerns him now, as he briefly basks in the glory of Warwickshire's seventh County Championship triumph, ahead of next Saturday's big CB40 final date with Hampshire at Lord's.
And he puts the Bears' success down simply to their sense of teamwork under skipper Jim Troughton, Giles' team-mate when the Bears last won the title in 2004.
"I just feel very proud for the guys," said Giles. "They're the ones who put their necks on the block every day.
"And I'm delighted for Jim Troughton, who has led them really well. All the players would run through a brick wall for him."
What made Warwickshire's success in this rain-ravaged this summer all the more impressive was the handicaps they had to overcome along the way.
Early season injuries deprived them of both Boyd Rankin and Chris Woakes, who was then called up for England one-day duty later in the season.

Warwickshire have now won the County Championship seven times.
Before this week, they had also lifted the trophy in 1911, 1951, 1972, 1994, 1995 and under Nick Knight in 2004 (pictured).

Jeetan Patel also received a call-up from New Zealand towards the end of the season, while England duo Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott managed just six Championship matches between them.

"We miss Bell and Trott for most of the time anyway. That's taken as read," said Giles.
"Then Chris Woakes got called up, which was great for him and Jeetan Patel too. And we had Rikki Clarke out injured.
"But it was the hard work that the guys put in earlier in the season that got us over the line.
"Over the course of the 16 four-day games, the bowlers get tired and there can be difficult times throughout the season when the players must hate me.
"But good people added to hard work makes for a very simple equation."
Now they have the chance to follow Nottinghamshire (1987)and Sussex (2006) as only the third team to claim cricket's double of winning both the Championship outright and the major one-day knockout trophy.
"The guys will have some time off before Tuesday's final Championship game against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge," added Giles, whose first one-day success as Bears coach was in the CB40 two years ago.
"But the focus will then move on during that game towards Saturday and the CB40."

Also related to this story

• Warwicks crowned county champions 06 Sep 2012 Cricket
• Bears still 'upbeat' in title bid 31 Jul 2012 Warwickshire
• Troughton named new Bears skipper 22 Nov 2010 Warwickshire
• Bears beat Somerset in CB40 final 18 Sep 2010 Counties

England lose to South Africa in Twenty20 international

By Becky Ashton BBC Sport

1st Twenty20 international, Chester-le-Street

South Africa 119-3 (19 ovs) beat England 118-7 by seven wickets

Match scorecard

Poor batting from England saw them fall to a seven-wicket loss to South Africa in the first of three Twenty20 matches.

The visitors secured the win with six balls left after England managed only 118-7 at Chester-le-Street.
After losing three early wickets, South Africa's Jacques Kallis (48 not out) and JP Duminy (47 not out) put on an unbeaten 90 for the fourth wicket.
Craig Kieswetter top-scored with 25 but Ravi Bopara made only six in England's third-lowest total in T20s.
After a disappointing batting performance in the final one-day international in midweek, poor shot selection, too many gambles and some good South African fielding left England struggling to post a decent score.

"It's been one-sided. We questioned whether bowling first was the right idea, but it was. England, when they review this, will say they gave their wickets away far too cheaply. They bowled OK, took a couple of early wickets, but then the experienced Kallis and exciting JP Duminy could bat without any pressure and it was a convincing win. England are not batting well in this format of the game. It was very ordinary and no-one took responsibility."

"It was a similar batting performance really [to Trent Bridge] - some soft dismissals in there," said England captain Stuart Broad.

"One thing we have to be very aware of is that you win games of Twenty20 cricket with numbers eight, nine, 10 and 11 not batting.
"Whether or not it's tough to find the boundary in the middle overs - I think that wicket was a bit like that, a bit sticky, a bit stoppy, and hard to know what a good score was - someone's got to put their hand up and try to bat through."
The eighth-wicket partnership between captain Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann was the most productive as they put on 33 runs to help the world champions reach 118-7.
The most worrying performance for the selectors was that of Bopara. Since pulling out of the second Test with South Africa for personal reasons, the Essex all-rounder has struggled with the bat.
In his last four England appearances the 27-year-old has scored just 22 runs and he added only six at Chester-le-Street, to raise questions over his place with the World Twenty20 starting in Sri Lanka next week.
He was also the most expensive of the bowlers going for 20 runs from just two overs.
Despite the low total England got off to a flying start with the ball as they got an early breakthrough in the second over.
Richard Levi was caught for eight, nicking Jade Dernbach to Swann in the slips.
Debutant Faf du Plessis was then out leg-before to Steven Finn for four before captain AB de Villiers was caught behind off the bowling of Dernbach.
But any hope was quickly extinguished as Kallis, restored to the team after being rested for the one-day series, and Duminy batted with ease.
The two sides are next in action on Monday, when they meet at Old Trafford from 18:30 BST.

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• England women crush West Indies 08 Sep 2012 Cricket
• Anderson gets England T20 call-up 06 Sep 2012 England
• Amal helps S Africa draw series 05 Sep 2012 England
• ICC World Twenty20 squads 17 Jul 2012 Cricket
• South Africa in England 2012 28 Sep 2011 England

Live Cricket Score: India vs New Zealand, second Test at Bengaluru - Day four

Ravichandra Ashwin ended with figures of five wickets on Sunday while Pragyan Ojha (L) finished with two wickets © AFP

By CricketCountry Staff

Bangalore: Sep 03, 2012

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin picked up his third five-wicket haul in four innings on Sunday to push the second Test against New Zealand on a knife edge.

Ashwin (5 for 69), who had a 12-wicket haul in the Hyderabad Test that India won by an innings and 115 runs, bowled quite beautifully to fox the Kiwi batsmen into errors as the visitors ended the day at 232 for nine, just 244 runs in front with two more days left in the Test.

Earlier, the Indians were bowled out for 353, 12 runs behind the Kiwi first innings total after Virat Kohli (103) notched his second century in 10 Tests, but it was seamer Tim Southee who took the honours in the morning by claiming seven for 64, his best figures to date.

If the second new ball pegged the Indian innings, then Umesh Yadav struck two telling blows first up to open the doors for India while Ashwin, who had 3 for 24 in his third spell of eight overs, and left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha (2-48) made further inroads into the Kiwi line-up.

India's chances hinge on their ability to counter the Kiwi seamers on the morrow while the weather, which has been sunny thus far, could also influence the course of the match that is nicely poised.

India enjoyed a fruitful post-lunch session when they delivered big blows to put New Zealand under pressure as the visitors lost four top-order batsmen after early strikes by Yadav, who dismissed openers Martin Guptill (7) and Brendon McCullum (23) in quick succession.

Guptill missed a full-toss to be bowled leg-stump in the first over after lunch while McCullum, who had started off in a bright fashion with a series of boundary hits, nicked to 'keeper Dhoni in the next over.

A dour Kane Williamson (13) and skipper Ross Taylor (35), the first innings centurion, then batted with defiance. However, the introduction of Ashwin saw the exit of Williamson who edged to lone slip fielder Virender Sehwag.

Taylor and Daniel Flynn (31) batted steadily until Taylor missed a sweep off Ojha and was trapped in front after a 42-run partnership. Soon after tea break, Flynn was dismissed as he guided Ashwin into the hands of Sehwag and the Kiwis were floundering on 140 for five.

However, little Kruger van Wyk (31), who was struck on the head and left fore-arm off consecutive deliveries from Yadav, and the tall James Franklin did a brief rescue act by adding 55 runs for the sixth wicket before Ashwin struck.

The tall off-spinner beat van Wyk's tentative bat to catch him plumb in front and later, drew Franklin out and had him stumped. Ashwin went on to take his fifth wicket by knocking back Tim Southee's stumps with one that turned and went in through the gate.

Towards close, Ojha trapped Bracewell in front to leave the Kiwis on 232 for nine at stumps.

Earlier, it was a sensational first hour's play that saw Southee coming up with a brilliant spell during which he took four wickets to pin India, overnight 283 for five, on the ropes.

The Kiwis wasted no time to take the second new ball and after a poor over by Trent Boult who conceded nine runs, Southee took over at the other end and carved his way through the Indian line-up.

In the meantime, Kohli, overnight 93, got to his century with two boundaries, but became first of Southee's four victims of the morning when he padded up to an in-coming delivery to be adjudged leg-before, thus ending a 122-run partnership with Mahendra Singh Dhoni (62).

In the following over, Southee claimed another leg-before decision, this time Dhoni playing down the wrong line. Zaheer Khan blasted a six off Southee, but the Kiwi got rid of the tail-ender with a snorter to have him caught behind and followed up with the wicket of Ojha, also snicking to the wicket-keeper in the same over.

Thereafter, the plucky Ashwin (32 not out), who has a Test century to his name, and Yadav (4) put on 33 runs for the last wicket before the latter fell to Boult as India fell 12 runs in arrears on the first innings.

Brief Scores: New Zealand 365 & 232 for 9 (James Franklin 41, Ross Taylor 35; Ravichandran Ashwin 5 for 69) lead India 353 (Virat Kohli 103, MS Dhoni 62, Suresh Raina 55, Virender Sehwag 43; Tim Southee 7 for 64) by 244 runs.

Warwickshire crowned County Champions after victory over midlands rivals Worcestershire

Warwickshire (471-8 dec) beat Worcestershire (60 & 209) by an innings and 202 runs

Warwickshire director of cricket Ashley Giles paid an emotional debut to Warwickshire stalwart Neal Abberley by dedicating the county’s seventh County Championship title to his mentor who died last year.

Abberley served Warwickshire for 50 years as player, second team coach and batting coach but died in August 2011 after a long battle with a lung complaint.

Giles played under Abberley, an old school hard task master, when he first joined Warwickshire 20 years ago and employed him as a valued member of his coaching team when he took charge at Edgbaston in 2007.

Giles had hoped to be able to dedicate the title to Abberley last year but they came up short on the final day of the season when they were pipped by Lancashire. But Abberley’s wife Chris was the first person Giles phoned yesterday afternoon before Warwickshire began their champagne celebrations on the New Road outfield.

“As soon as we finished I called Chris but her phone wasn’t picking up but I sent her a text to tell her we had won it,” Giles said.

“That’s for Abbers and for my wife who has gone through a pretty torrid year with illness as well.
“I had always planned that if we won it last year I would pick up the phone and call Chris but we didn’t win it so this has been 13 months in the making.
“Most of these guys are fairly fresh to the club and they only knew Abbers at the end, they don’t really know what Abbers really did for Warwickshire cricket. He was the heart and soul of the club.Someone who gave his life to the club for 50 years who died while in service.
"I said last year that it was one of Abbers’ favourite phrases that we were not quite ready yet. I told the players today that we are certainly ready now.
“I think we’ve got the respect from a lot of the other counties, who believe we’re the best cricket side in the country and it’s the one competition that is probably the proof of the best cricket team in the country and they deserve it.
Giles enjoyed success as a player as part of the Warwickshire squad that won six domestic trophies between 1993 and 1995 and a walk-on part – just one appearance – when they last won the championship in 2004.
He was also a key part of England’s 2005 Ashes-winning squad but said that winning county cricket’s blue riband competition equalled that achievement.
“The Ashes was the ultimate but this a different thing altogether,” Giles said. “As a coach you are largely responsible, your head is on the block for the team’s performances and in many ways more stress goes with that.
“As a player you can eat off the other ten guys in the team. I probably didn’t have as many sleepless nights as a player. This is very special because it’s a different career and it ranks alongside lifting the Ashes.”
Warwickshire won the title despite losing Chris Woakes and Boyd Rankin, who took 111 wickets between them last season, to injury for the first half of the season.
But Keith Barker and Chris Wright filled the gap admirably by taking 112 between them including 17 in this match. Wright sealed victory 25 minutes after lunch by spread-eagling the stumps of Alan Richardson, who played in Warwickshire’s 2004 title-winning side.
England players Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott, who also played in 2004, arrived at New Road to join in the celebrations which were led by captain Jim Troughton.
“With the Olympics being on at the moment you see a lot of people picking up a gold medal and they have those interviews. I would be lying if I didn’t think one day would that be me at the end of the season being able to say how proud I am of the hard work that everyone has put in, not just the guys in whites but the guys behind the scenes,” Troughton said.
Why Warwickshire won the title
Jim Troughton’s captaincy
The left-handed batsman from a famous family of actors is quiet and under-stated but has revealed a steely streak since he took over as captain last year.
Coaching team
Director of cricket Ashley Giles has a close working relationship with bowling coach Graeme Welch, who played in the county’s 1994 treble-winning side.
Wright’s wickets
Former Middlesex seamer Chris Wright was released by Essex last season and signed on an initial loan deal. Given added responsibility when Chris Woakes and Boyd Rankin were injured in March and responded with 58 championship wickets, including nine at Worcester.
Barker’s bowling
Former Blackburn Rovers academy and Rochdale footballer Ian Blackwell switched sports four years ago. Signed as a batsman but has developed into an effective left-arm swing bowler who took 54 championship wickets having remodelled his action with Welch.
Ian Blackwell
The former England left-arm spinner was signed on a short-term loan from Durham to cover while Jeetan Patel was on Test duty with New Zealand. Contributed important runs and wickets, collected a championship medal and is in line to play in the CB40 final. “If carlsberg did loan moves! #championship #lordsfinal” tweeted Somerset’s Jos Buttler to Blackwell this week.