Panesar is still waiting to make his Ashes debut

Giles has failed to hit top form in England's two opening defeats, and Cork told BBC Five Live: "He is not good enough at the moment to be playing.

"Coach Duncan Fletcher has said that Panesar is the best finger spinner in the world. Why is he not playing?

"We want to see someone in the side who can win a game. Giles can't, not with the bat and not with the ball."

Panesar made his England debut against India in March and has taken 32 wickets in 10 Tests, including two five-wicket hauls.

But the 24-year-old has been overlooked in the two Tests so far because Fletcher insists he wants to bat down to number eight.

Giles, who has barely played cricket for the best part of 12 months, has failed to shine so far this series.

He has contributed 74 runs in four innings but has only taken three wickets for 262 runs, two of which came in the stunning loss to Australia in Adelaide this week.

"Fletcher is wrong to be worried about the number eight batsman," added Cork.

I know Andrew as a man and as a captain and he will be absolutely devastated Former England all-rounder Dominic Cork

"If the top six or seven batsmen do not provide the majority of England's runs, change them.

"Why are we worried about number eight getting 20 runs extra? Fletcher needs to sit down with the selectors and re-assess how England are going to get 20 wickets.

"I like Ashley as a person but the second Test negativity started when they picked him ahead of Monty."

Cork, who took 131 wickets in 37 Tests for England, also says he has real concerns regarding England's attack ahead of the third Test in Perth, which starts on 14 December.

"We have two bowlers in a bit of nick at the moment, you know what you will get with Andrew Flintoff and Matthew Hoggard," he said.

606 DEBATE: Would you pick Panesar ahead of Giles for the third Test?

"But Jimmy Anderson looks as if he is trying too hard and he is not getting the ball in the right area.

"And the worst worry is our strike bowler, Steve Harmison, as he is not hitting the wicket and not bowling at pace."

But Cork, 35, has complete confidence that Lancashire team-mate and England skipper Andrew Flintoff can rally the players for an improved display in the next game.

"I know Andrew as a man and as a captain, he will be absolutely devastated," said Cork.

"He will go round the team saying: 'We have a nation supporting us and we have thousands of people in Australia or coming for Christmas - we need to show them why they have paid a lot of money'. He will not let this lie."