Anil Kumble and Amit Mishra

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Originally posted by lord_of_darkness
lol giles isint really that great..

Marc has a valid point. Who is to say that Giles wouldn't have the record of an Anil Kumle or Harbhajan Singh if his home field were in India? Singh and Kumble have poor records outside of India and (especially in Kumble's case) it is not far off Giles' average. Giles has also had his best bowling on the subcontinent. Therefore why is he so much more criticized than the Indian spin twins?

[Richard]

Originally posted by Mr Mxyzptlk
Marc has a valid point. Who is to say that Giles wouldn't have the record of an Anil Kumle or Harbhajan Singh if his home field were in India? Singh and Kumble have poor records outside of India and (especially in Kumble's case) it is not far off Giles' average. Giles has also had his best bowling on the subcontinent. Therefore why is he so much more criticized than the Indian spin twins?

Because he is English. Simple as.
Anyone with any sense would realise that Giles and Croft are good bowlers on turning wickets typical to the subcontinent. And instead criticise those who continue to advocate the selection of fingerspinners in England, amongst them the selectors.
It should be clear to anyone taking a decent look that Croft and Giles are England's best spinners. It should be equally clear that neither of them are Test class in England. So therefore don't pick them in England, and don't pick any other fingerspinners either. Stick to seam, and stick to green wickets.