After Panesar had whirled his way to 3-39 in Pakistan’s second innings in the third test at Headingly this summer, Fletcher begrudgingly purred that the mecurial Panesar, who’d won the hearts of a cricketing nation, was now the best finger spinner in the world.

“As a finger spinner there is probably no one to match him in world cricket at the moment - his control is very, very good,” said Fletcher of Panesar.

England’s enigmatic coach also stressed that what the side needed “as a priority in Australia is to bowl them [Australia] out twice”.

So why after the disastrous Ashes opener in Brisbane has he decided to stick with Ashley Giles? Giles himself conceded before Ashes that he was not as good a bowler.

Giles’s inclusion in the first test was with some concentration of spoon bending proportions, understandable. England could not afford to loose the opening game and went for Giles who by popular consensus, proliferated by Fletcher, was a more attractive all round package. Everyone bit the bullet, trusted in Fletcher and then quietly whispered we told you so afterwards.

The reasons for picking Giles are not all together clear for the second test, other than he was giving all those responsible for the ‘Brisbane balls-up’ a chance to redeem themselves. This can hardly the basis on which to forge a campaign to retain the Ashes.

The easiest statistical comparison is to look at their last 10 games irrespective of the opposition as Panesar has only played 10 test matches.

With the Ball:

Giles:

17 wickets at an average of 61.70

Strike rate: 104.2
Total runs conceded: 1049 runs
Total Overs: 295.1
Economy Rate: 3.6

Panesar:

32 wickets at 32.4
Strike rate: 78.35
Total runs conceded: 1037 runs
Total overs: 418
Economy Rate: 2.4

It is always dicey comparing statistics as they can be used very subjectively. That said however there is not one area where Giles’s stats come close to Panesar’s especially when you take into consideration the difference in work load. Panesar averages over 12.3 more overs per game, and as he grew into test cricket so did the trust instilled in him by his captains.

Giles as we know though was picked because he offers more with the bat. The stats at first seem support this, and of course it almost impossible to gauge how many runs have been saved or conceded as a fielder.

With the bat:

Panesar:

51 runs in 13 innings at an average of 10.2
Highest score: 26

Giles: 367 runs in 19 innings at an average of 22.93
Highest score: 59

It is important though to consider the economy rates here to compare it to the batting stats. Panesar concedes 1.2 less runs per over and has bowled 418 overs more. If Giles had bowled the same amount of overs he would have conceded 1505 runs. That would equate to 468 runs more than Panesar. According to their batting averages however Giles would contribute 127 more runs over that 10 game period. That is approximately 341 runs that Panesar’s bowling offers compared to Giles’s batting.

Even if you were take the actual difference in number of runs scored, Panesar’s economy rate means the team are a total 25 runs better off.

Stats are subjective however, and the circumstances under which runs are made or wickets taken cannot be measured. As the stats are the only quantifiable evidence we have though, the weight of Panesar’s case is as heavy the world on Trescothicks shoulders right now.

To win a test match you must under most circumstance take twenty wickets. Giles’s extra runs would not appear to compensate for the fact that Panesar has a higher work load, concedes less runs, has a better strike rate, better economy rate, and mostly important of all takes more wickets!

As I said statistics are subjective and do not always tell the whole story, but it would appear the person manipulating the numbers most at the moment is Duncan Fletcher. There seems to be very few voices hollering their support for this particular selection. Even the Aussies seem mystified at the sidelining of Panesar. Both are consummate hard working professionals. So come on Fletcher what is it? What is you seen in Giles over Panesar that nobody else does?

All stats taken from Cricinfo prior to the 2nd Ashes Test 2006/07 in Adelaide.