Australia v England Live

England took a massive Ashes gamble by including Ashley Giles in their first Test line-up - a year after his last appearance in international cricket.

Warwickshire's 33-year-old left-arm spinner was preferred to Monty Panesar as England's spin option despite not featuring in a first-class match since the second Test against Pakistan at Faisalabad, which finished on November 24 last year.

His experience and superior batting ability persuaded England to include Giles, despite a year out with hip and hernia problems. He took the place of Panesar, who has claimed 32 wickets in 10 Tests in the last year.

England took the field at the Gabba with eight players still remaining from the side which drew at The Oval 14 months ago to secure the return of the Ashes for the first time since 1986-7.

It also provided a stronger batting line-up for England with Giles, who hit a Test-best 54 on his last outing against Australia at The Oval, due to come out at number eight.

Had England chosen Panesar, they would have been forced to have Matthew Hoggard bat in that position instead and give them a long tail including James Anderson and Steve Harmison.

Giles, who hit the winning runs in the dramatic fourth Test victory over Australia at Trent Bridge in 2005, also played a key role with the ball in that series with an important holding role including 10 wickets.

Panesar, though, can rightly feel aggrieved by the decision after enjoying an outstanding year since being given his debut in the opening Test against India at Nagpur last March.

Northamptonshire's 24-year-old left-arm spinner claimed Sachin Tendulkar as his first Test scalp and has impressed in his three Test series against India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

England team to face Australia in the first Test at Brisbane: Strauss, Cook, Bell, Pietersen, Collingwood, Flintoff, Jones, Giles, Harmison, Anderson, Hoggard.