Giles completed the practice session, but was sent for an X-ray later when he complained of soreness.

He said: "It was the first ball I faced from Harmy and it struck me at the point of the left wrist.

"At first I thought it was just bruising and kept on batting and completed my net.

"But afterwards the pain just got worse and worse. Now I have been told I will be out for anything up to six weeks which is obviously very disappointing."

Giles is hopeful of returning in time for the fourth Test in Melbourne on Boxing Day, but the setback gives Yorkshire off-spinner Richard Dawson a chance to make his first Test appearance since India last year.

England have suffered a series of injury problems since arriving in Australia a month ago.

Darren Gough has been forced to return home having failed to recover from his long-standing knee injury.

Fellow fast-bowler Simon Jones faces knee surgery after sustaining cruciate ligament damage in the opening Test, and all rounder Andrew Flintoff has been ruled out of the next two Tests having failed to recover from his summer hernia operation.