LONDON (AP) England spin bowler Ashley Giles retired yesterday from cricket because of a persistent right hip injury.

"I had hoped to make a full recovery and return to playing over the next few months," Giles said. "But the (medical) advice I have received means that there is no chance of me returning to cricket at any level."

The left-arm Warwickshire spinner played 54 Tests, taking 143 wickets at an average of 40.6 with best match figures of 9-122. Giles also took 55 wickets in 62 one-day internationals at an average of 37.61.

Giles, 34, debuted for England in 1998 against South Africa, but only established himself as England's premier spin bowler on the successful tour of Pakistan in 2000-01.

However, he struggled with injuries and form, and was often the target of media criticism after successive captains used him to slow scoring through negative bowling that had little chance of taking wickets.

"Cricket has been my job, my joy, my life," Giles said. "I hope I have been good to the game because it has been very good to me."

In 2005, Giles took 10 wickets in England's successful Ashes campaign, and on the final day of the series recorded his highest test score of 59 to help seal the victory. His Test batting average of 20.89 included four 50s.

Giles missed most of 2006 with the hip injury, playing his last Test in December against Australia with 2-149 match figures. He was replaced in the team by Monty Panesar.

"In my view, Ashley has to be one of the most underrated cricketers ever to pull on an England shirt," England captain Michael Vaughan said. "He was a key member of the England Test side which won six successive Test series, and I know how much his team-mates valued his contributions to our success."