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Wednesday, 22 May 2013, 06:14pm

Giles happy to chase big targets

The England and Wales Cricket Board launched their Champions Counties initiative at Lord's on Tuesday, which looks to build on the successes of previous plans to benefit all forms of the game, from grassroots through to the Test arena.

As part of the 23-point scheme - which includes aims of an increase in participation in cricket up to 197,500, attendance across all domestic competitions by some 200,000 and completing sponsorship and broadcasting deals through to 2019 - the ECB hopes to deliver success at the highest level, with a World Cup triumph Down Under on the wishlist, along with Ashes success and 2017 World Test Championship glory, not to mention also delivering the Women's World Cup title.

Before all of that, though, there is the small matter of next month's ICC Champions Trophy, which will be the final event of its kind.

Giles, who led Warwickshire to the 2012 LV= County Championship Division One title, was part of the England squad narrowly beaten by West Indies the last time the competition was played on home soil eight years ago.

It is an experience the 40-year-old does not intend to repeat this time around, with England beginning their campaign against Australia at Edgbaston on June 8.

"We know the Ashes is around the corner, but the Champions Trophy means a lot to these players," he said.

"I played in the last Champions Trophy, and I know what it was like to lose a final, so it would be good to go one better this time. We will certainly be up for it."

Giles is happy for his side to have big targets, in the form of the Champions Trophy and the 2015 World Cup.

"Everyone has done fantastic things over the last few years (for England) and now we just need to build on that," he said. "We have a squad of players who are quite possibly capable of winning that World Cup."

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