 Dalrymple (right) stood out during England's one-day series defeat |
Jamie Dalrymple insists Test selection has barely occurred to him as he faces Pakistan with the England A side. With Andrew Flintoff injured, spinner Dalrymple is a candidate for the all-rounder's slot, after impressing in the one-day series loss to Sri Lanka.
"I hadn't thought of anything to do with Test matches until people asked.
"I haven't had any word about what's going on. It's nice to be in this game, to test myself out against more good players of spin," he told BBC Sport.
The first Test begins at Lord's on 13 July, with England's selectors naming their squad on Sunday, towards the end of the match at Canterbury.
Dalrymple is one of nine players in the side with Test or one-day international experience, and will be playing alongside Matthew Hoggard for the first time.
"I'm trying to look at it as a chance to play in the longer form of the game, have a good bowl and as long an innings as I can," said the Middlesex player.
"I'll try and bowl in a more attacking manner.
"Batting-wise, you're more aggressive in one-day cricket. I'll try and bat for as long as I can. I don't think I'll ever be an occupier of the crease."
 | I've not really got further than hoping to try and get in the squad for the Pakistan one-dayers |
Flintoff was one of six leading players missing the recent 5-0 one-day series whitewash by Sri Lanka and none are able to return for the first Test.
That opens the door for England A players to impress this week.
The man to fill Flintoff's spot could be an all-rounder, with Tim Bresnan and Alex Loudon also playing in this week's match.
But the selectors may opt for the safety-first policy of a sixth batsman, and Ian Bell will be keen to push for a recall while in Canterbury.
Dalrymple continued: "Realistically I've played six one-day internationals and there's no point in jumping way ahead of oneself.
"I've not really got further than hoping to try and get in the squad for the Pakistan one-dayers.
"I don't know who will be fit when the next round of one-dayers happen. There are so many variables that trying to chase them around I just confuse myself."
Dalrymple described the series against Sri Lanka as a "big learning curve" and he refused to temper the disappointment of defeat with his own good form.
He was the second-highest scorer in the home side, with 202 runs from five innings, took four relatively cheap wickets and stood out as a strong fielder.
But the 25-year-old said: "We were losing games and that is the bottom line in cricket.
"I know there's an individual component but it's a team game at the end of the day and we didn't perform well enough, got soundly beaten and that's very disappointing."
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