The England cricket team's injury woes worsened today when spinner Ashley Giles was ruled out of the final two Tests.

Giles, who broke a bone in his left wrist in a practice session before the second Test, had hoped to be back for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

But England and Wales Cricket Board chief medical officer Dr Peter Gregory said the best Giles could hope for was to play the one-day series next year.

"The original medical advice was that the injury would take between three to six weeks to heal and this remains the case," Gregory said.

"He re-visits a specialist on December 24 and, depending on the outcome of this meeting, I hope he will be fit and available for selection for the remainder of the one-day international series in Australia in the New Year."

Bowler Andrew Flintoff this week became the fifth injured player sent home since the tour began two months ago. England has gone through 31 players so far.

ECB chairman Lord MacLaurin publicly speculated on whether Flintoff had taken his recuperation from a double hernia operation seriously, prompting a furious outburst from injured bowler Darren Gough who said he was "disgusted" by the comments.

The ECB's discipline standing committee chairman, Gerard Elias, QC, today decided not to take disciplinary action against Gough over his criticism but has written him a private letter regarding his comments, the ECB said in a statement.

The ECB denied reports that Elias had been asked to investigate Gough's and Flintoff's behaviour at the Lilleshall National Sports Centre, where they were recuperating, prior to the Ashes tour.

"The ECB has not received any formal complaints in this regard, despite newspaper speculation to the contrary," the statement said.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP