Thorpe willing to fight for place

Thorpe is focusing on a busy international summer ahead

Graham Thorpe has promised to fight tooth and nail to hang onto his England Test place this summer.

The 35-year-old Surrey batsman is the team's most experienced player with 98 Test appearances and more than 6,600 runs to his credit.

But he has been struggling with a back problem and his place is under threat from the likes of Kevin Pietersen.

"At the moment I'm in possession and I'm going to enjoy every day which I get playing for England," said Thorpe.

"I don't think it's going to be too long before you see Kevin Pietersen playing Test matches for England.

"There are also lots of other good players out there.

"Robert Key, who I thought was very unlucky to miss out on the Test squad [against Bangladesh], he's an exceptional player and you've still got Mark Butcher in the wings. That's good for the English game."

Thorpe returned to action for Surrey in Tuesday's C&G Trophy victory over Gloucestershire after missing two games because of his back.

I just want to give it my best shot this summer, to see how far I can go. That's the way I'm looking at it Graham Thorpe

He has been short of runs this summer and managed only 13 at Bristol but remains confident he will rise to the occasion for England.

"I realise there are people out there who are pushing me very hard. That's keeping me going, driving me on.

"I'm doing my best to get things as right as I can. One good knock can really turn it round for you - if that's in a Test match, even better," Thorpe told BBC Sport.

Could be a case for bringing in somebody for Bangladesh and letting Thorpe get back to full fitness for the Ashes From Hampton Have your say on TMS

"I'm working really hard to make sure the back stays strong so I can actually be mobile to perform the way I want to perform in the middle."

After Bangladesh, England face the ultimate challenge of an Ashes series against Australia, the side Thorpe made his Test debut against 12 years ago.

He is eager to take them on again, but is not allowing himself to think too far ahead.

"I'm just really taking it week by week, game by game. That's kind of how I viewed it when I got back in the England side and that approach hasn't really changed," Thorpe added.