No initial reward for spinner but Giles could still prove his worth to Hussain

The England selectors played the old adjuster. After backing the reputation of the Lord's pitch early in the season and going into the First Test without a spinner on a wicket they had badly misread, they decided to play slow left-armer Ashley Giles on a pitch which was much more suited to seam than the one at Lord's.

Not only that, but Nasser Hussain was prepared to bring him on to bowl in the 12th over after two early wickets had fallen to Matthew Hoggard and Andy Caddick, with Alex Tudor and Andrew Flintoff raring to go. Giles bowled three reasonably accurate overs and was treated with almost exaggerated respect by Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.

There was only one loose ball in the 18, which came when he pitched short and wide to Jayawardene, who showed he is brimful of class by cutting him effortlessly away behind square for four.

After three overs which produced six runs, Hussain had second thoughts and called up Flintoff. By then, the moment had gone. Sangakkara and Jayawardene had lost their early nerves and found their balance.

While the early arrival of Giles at the bowling crease showed a welcome versatility in Hussain's thinking, this change had done little more than take the pressure off the two Sri Lankans at a crucial moment. What an infuriating game cricket can be. All the same, one hopes that the selectors, especially with a former slow left-arm spinner, David Graveney, as their chairman, will not make the mistake of again going into a Test match while paying only lip service to spin.

Even after all the rain that has fallen recently here, together with the inherent nature of a pitch which favours seam, it is folly to put all your eggs in one basket. If two batsmen build a partnership in seam bowling conditions, the fielding captain will begin to look for an option which has not been left at his disposal.

Giles too, has the advantage of playing on his home ground, for local knowledge is invaluable. With the weekend's weather promising to be good, Hussain will almost certainly be extremely grateful for the alternative Giles gives him before this match is out.