Thursday 30 July 2015 20:42, UK
Former England player and limited-overs coach Ashley Giles has been defending himself on social media after Steven Finn's sensational return to Test cricket.
Finn ripped through the hapless Australia team in the second innings of the third Investec Ashes Test to claim 5-45 and put England on the brink of an astonishing victory on day two of the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston.
He removed Michael Clarke and Adam Voges in successive balls on his way to his fifth five-wicket haul in 24 Tests as Australia, bowled out for 136 first time around, capitulated to 168-7 in their second innings having conceded a first-innings deficit of 145.
His appearance at Edgbaston is his first in the longest form of the game in more than two years, during which time he suffered a remarkable slump in confidence and form.
The low point came during the limited-overs leg of the last tour Down Under when, having lost his run-up, Finn was sent back to England early having been deemed "not selectable" by Giles.
That nadir looked to be firmly in the past as he took his match tally to seven wickets with a second-innings five-for in Birmingham, with England fans on Twitter wasting no time criticising Giles' actions.
But the 2005 Ashes winner, currently Lancashire coach, was quick to fight his corner.
"Think I said he was not selectable. He was in an awful place. Delighted for @finnysteve today," he wrote in one message.
"No humble pie I'm afraid. He was (unselectable). Ask him! No one is happier for him than me."
Another read: "Should I have just said he wanted to go home? Or lied about an injury? It's a professional game.
"Keeping him in Australia then would have been far worse than sending him home. So pleased for him now."
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