Kent spinner James Tredwell is ready to fight for his international spot as he prepares to head to Australia for the ODI and T20 series.

Having become a regular feature in limited overs cricket for England over the last few years, Tredwell has recently stepped down from the Kent captaincy after just one season in charge to focus on his international commitments.

And having been named in the squad for both England’s ODI and T20 fixtures Down Under, with frontline spinner Graeme Swann rested, Tredwell is keen to secure his place in the side.

“During the summer last year, I did play a fair amount [for England], he said. “I guess that while they are trying to manage Swanny’s [Graeme Swann] workload, in terms of seniority I do come into that. It’s not necessarily seniority – it’s who they feel is right for the job at the time, and there are a few good spinners around – obviously Briggsy [Danny Briggs, Hampshire spinner] is involved in the set up and he’s done really well in One Day cricket over the last few years.”

Despite having featured on a regular basis for England in limited overs cricket recently; Tredwell was keen to point out that his place is most certainly not being taken for granted. “There’s no reason that I’ll be a shoe-in into the team, that’s for sure”, he said. “There’s been no real mention of that. You’ve got to go out there and prove your worth.”

In the Ashes series, England’s campaign has got underway in the worst possible fashion, having lost heavily in the opening two tests. They will be hoping for a strong response in the Third Test in Perth, starting at 3am on Thursday [13th December].

Tredwell said: “You want to hope it goes the distance – don’t you – for the five tests. This week [of the third test] will obviously be massively crucial in that. You want to get out there and hopefully there will still be a buzz around the test cricket and see them bring the series home and retain them.”

When he does get to Oz, Tredwell is unlikely to see much of the Test squad during the Ashes series, focussing his preparation instead on the five ODIs and three T20s.

“I think we’ll be kept a little bit separate”, said the former skipper. “Obviously we’re working on totally different skills. I guess we’ll be having our own little camp. I think anyone who’s playing cricket at the time is able to keep playing so anyone who’s involved in the Big Bash [Australian Domestic T20 competition] and stuff like that will continue to play in that, so there might only be two or three of us!”

England’s tour Down Under hasn’t gone all that well so far, so Tredwell will be hoping that the visitors fortunes have changed by the time he gets there early in the New Year.