Giles ruled out of ODIs

Ashley Giles, the England spinner, will miss the five-match one-day series against Pakistan, after it was confirmed that he would be flying home to undergo surgery on a long-standing hip-cartilage problem.

Giles, who looked in some discomfort during an ineffective bowling performance in the second Test at Faisalabad, has not yet been ruled out of next week's series-decider in Lahore, but England's aim is to have him back to full fitness in time for the tour of India that gets underway next spring.

His place in the one-day side will be taken by, Ian Blackwell, the Somerset allrounder, who has played in 23 previous ODIs, but none since the NatWest Series against New Zealand and West Indies in 2004.

A fierce striker of the ball, and an increasingly effective left-arm spinner, Blackwell has struggled with a questionable attitude towards his fitness in the past, although at the age of 27, and now captain at Somerset, his time may finally have come.

"Blackwell has had opportunities with the one-day squad before," said David Graveney, England's chairman of selectors. "Since his appointment as Somerset captain he has had to take on extra responsibility, and we believe he is now better equipped to fulfil his undoubted potential at international level."

The selectors have already decided that Ian Bell will be on stand-by to join the one-day squad should Michael Vaughan miss the series due to injury. Marcus Trescothick will continue to deputise as captain if Vaughan is unavailable.