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Warwickshire left-armer Giles was one of a number of England stars to come in for fierce criticism after the 239-run defeat at Lord's, but he is desperate to shut the pundits up and help level the series at Edgbaston.

In his column in The Guardian, Giles fumed: "Can't bat, can't bowl, can't field. Famously, they said that about the last England side to win the Ashes. Now they are saying it about me.

"I suppose I should take it as an omen. Once my anger has died down, maybe I will.

"One moment, Mike Gatting's 1986-7 tourists in Australia were being rubbished, the next moment they were lifting the Ashes. Now the attacks are more personal and I'm one of those in the firing line.

"One of my mates said to me that it's always the negative voices that are the loudest, but the criticism has been hurtful and it's been unfair. I don't expect media cheerleaders. I just think I have a right to some fair criticism.

"If you believe some of the stuff that has been written, we've gone from heroes to zeroes in one match, the strides we have made as a team over the past few years virtually forgotten.

"After only one game in the most anticipated Test series for many years, suddenly Giles is rubbish, Geraint Jones is rubbish and Ian Bell is too young."