The King of Spain

BEDFORD ROAD: The story goes that English offspinner Ashley Giles was having a testimonial event and his county ordered a whole lot of coffee mugs to commemorate the event. But rather than reading "The King of Spin" they read "The King of Spain". Well the Quixote of the arm ball retired today and the headlines were unanimous in describing him as one of England's Ashes winning heroes. What they should have called him is one of England's Ashes losers. Of the four Ashes series Giles played against Australia he was only successful in one of them. And in the most recent campaign they went down 5-0. He took 20 wickets against us at an ant's nut better than 2 a game. Real legend. This celebration of mediocrity, and a desire to bask in the dimming glory of single, isolated successes, are two of the reasona for England's persistent failure. It would be like shedding tears for Greg Matthews and even his record outstrips the King of Spain.