Lutonian Panesar looks to make the grade as he stays on in Australia

The 31-year-old played just two Tests, in Adelaide and Melbourne, as England were whitewashed in their Ashes series against Australia recently.

And his determined his last appearance in the Boxing Day Test should be his last.

He said: “I’m really determined and I have a lot of hunger and a lot of desire in me that the MCG isn’t my last Test, that I continue to play lots more cricket for England.

“I feel I’ve got a lot to offer, and it’s one of the reasons I’m here in Sydney for a couple of months.”

Panesar will be playing for Western Suburbs, having previously played for Randwick-Petersham after England’s last visit to Australia.

He continued: “I’m looking to improve my game as much as I can, and try and improve other facets of my game like my fielding and my batting, as well as my bowling and my fitness work.

“I’m out here for a couple of months, to prove to the England selectors and also back home that there’s a lot of hunger and desire in me to get back in the England team.”

He was also keen to defend captain and former Bedfordshire team-mate Alastair Cook who has come under pressure following England’s disastrous tour of Australia.

Panesar added: “Alastair Cook is a world-class cricketer, we all know that, and he’s obviously got a lot of cricket left in him.

“He’s a strong leader and he’s one of the best batsmen in the world.

“Everyone goes through tough patches, and he’s just got to believe and have that confidence in his ability, knowing that ‘I’ve done it, and I can do it again’, and I’m sure that in these one-day games that are coming up he’ll produce a good knock and get his form back to where it needs to be.”