England off-spinner Jamie Dalrymple is hoping for a last-minute call-up for the final Ashes Test against Australia, starting in Sydney on January 2.
The 25-year-old was a late inclusion in the England squad, replacing Ashley Giles when the left-arm spinner returned home to be with his sick wife during the third Test in Perth.
Kenyan-born Dalrymple has played 14 one-day internationals for England but is uncapped at Test level, although he did field as a substitute during the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne.
The Sydney Cricket Ground is Australia's most spin-friendly wicket and Dalrymple's best chance of getting a start, playing alongside new first-choice spinner Monty Panesar.
"I'm desperate to play," Dalrymple told reporters.
"If I get the chance to play at Sydney it would be superb. It would be a great experience playing against a very good side."
Dalrymple said he was unfazed by the daunting prospect facing England, insisting the tourists were determined to avoid the humiliation of a 5-0 series whitewash and spoil the retirements of Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.
"There are resilient guys here and they want to go out and win in the test next week," he said.
"There are a couple of retirement parties to break up and the team are burning to put down a marker."
