James Lawton: Giles spin is flattened by injury threat to Warne

News management may be counted another weakness to have been exposed by English cricket's tour of hell Down Under.

The possibility is suggested by the announcement by Ashley Giles that there is a good chance he will be fit in time for the World Cup in South Africa. No doubt this is a welcome development. Giles may not have stirred the nation with his concerns about touring India at the end of last year, but he is widely acknowledged as England's best spinner.

However, the impact of his good news was somewhat lessened by the fact that it came at precisely the time the organisers of cricket's biggest event, not to mention the wide world of cricket lovers, were absorbing the shocking disappointment of Shane Warne's near-certain absence through injury.

Giles' presence may be of some marginal help to England. Warne's absence is an assault on the beauty and the thrill of the entire game.