The spinner has been ruled out of the start of the tour as he continues his recovery from hip surgery but, officially, he is still aiming to join up with the squad before the end of their trip.

Giles himself, however, cast doubt on whether that would happen by stressing the intensity of England's schedule over the next 12 months, with the Ashes tour to be followed by the World Cup in the Caribbean.

"If I get to a point where I am pain-free I might be able to move very quickly," the 32-year-old said.

"But England need a fit Ashley Giles rather than a 60 percent fit Ashley Giles to bowl for them, looking at the long-term schedule for the next year or so and for my personal health in the years beyond that."

Giles, who has been replaced in England's touring party by Somerset all-rounder Ian Blackwell, underwent an operation in early December and was initially expected to be fit for the India tour.

But the extent of his injury proved worse than initially thought and his recovery was set back when he proved unable to jog for more than five minutes on a gym treadmill without pain.