Dernbach raring to go

One of the many tattoos on Jade Dernbach's arms is an exhortation to 'seize the day' - and he intends to do just that if he gets his chance in England's World Cup quarter-final against Sri Lanka.

The South-Africa born Surrey seamer was last week named as England's replacement for the injured Ajmal Shahzad and should he get the call to face Sri Lanka, in under a week he will have gone from England Lions duty in the West Indies to an international debut on the biggest stage.

"I want to give everything I can for England cricket, because that is the country I love and the country that has given me everything I have now. If I get the nod on Saturday I will give it my all." said Dernbach.

Originally interested exclusively in playing rugby in his native South Africa, it was only after moving with his family to England as a teenager that he realised the summer sport was also an option.

Barely three years later, Dernbach became one of Surrey's youngest ever debutants.

He added: "I only started my cricket career in England; I didn't play much in South Africa.

"When I came to the UK, that's when I really started playing cricket. I was more of a rugby player before that.

"Cricket happened by chance really. I played a bit for a local side and ended up getting a trial for Surrey, started with the under-15s and made my way up through the age groups.

"It was all a bit of fun for me to begin with. It wasn't until I was about 17 that I realised there was a good opportunity to make it a career."