Giles set to be available for first Test

England left-arm spinner Ashley Giles came through a full practice session at Christchurch's Jade Stadium on Tuesday and announced himself "available for selection" for the first Test against New Zealand.

He said his middle back, which had been giving him some trouble, came through a spell of bowling, a net session and fielding with flying colours.

The first of three Tests begins on Wednesday.

"As long as I don't wake up tomorrow in agony, everything is fine," he said.

However, Giles said that by looking at the pitch, he did not expect to be doing too much bowling on the first couple of days.

"Unless it becomes very hot over the next 24-hours, I will be sitting back waiting for the quickies to do their stuff," he said. "If it does dry out a lot, I will be licking my lips in anticipation."

Giles said he had enormous respect for New Zealand's left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori in a series where the two spinners could come in for a lot of action.

"He is a fine bowler. He's got something about him. He's got a strong action and can do a lot with the ball.

"A couple of the New Zealand players deal with spin well. Chris Cairns and Craig McMillan are the best, while Nathan Astle and Stephen Fleming are more conservative. It'll be a challenge, but I reckon I'm up to it."

Indications at fielding practice were that James Foster will earn the wicketkeeping gloves ahead of Warren Hegg.

Foster was fielding in full kit alongside the slips' cordon getting coach Duncan Foster's nicks and the feeling is, given Foster's relative youth, that the future belongs to the Essex gloveman.

The other contentious issue involving the England team will be whether Craig White has done enough to edge Mark Ramprakash out of the starting line-up.

Do England go all out and take in four medium-to-fast bowlers including White, or take the cautious approach and play the extra specialist batsman in Ramprakash?

England intend on naming their 12 for the test on Tuesday night.

Mail Cricket Editor