Dernbach feels ready for England recall

Cricket365
August 16, 2013

England fast bowler Jade Dernbach says his current form for Surrey, and determination to work on his wayward and expensive bowling, means he could be up for a recall to the England limited-overs set-up.

Dernbach's last game for England was in June this year, against New Zealand, where he gave away 87 runs in 10 overs and failed to take a wicket. His death bowling, so famous before, was terrible, and he was dropped for the Champions Trophy.

He then went back to his county to work on his game and find his variations again, and he was the most economical front line bowler in the Friends Life T20 competition after 10 matches. He was the only bowler to conceded less than six runs per over, and he took 16 wickets.

With the limited overs matches against Australia coming up, Dernbach feels his current form, and renewed sense of discipline, deems him worthy of a recall to the England side.

Dernbach told <i>givemesport.com</i>: "I some think something has certainly clicked, I feel a lot more confident in my game since I came back to Surrey and worked hard and put some things right.

"When you're playing for England in that arena it's very unforgiving and you can get shown up very quickly. I've been able to come back to Surrey and hone my skills, practice my death bowling variations and learning when to use variations in a game, I'm in a good frame of mind and feeling confident."

He added: "It's very disappointing to be left out of any international side, especially when you've been in the set up for a period of time, I was really motivated to come back to Surrey and get my game back in order.

"I know I'm good enough because I've been there before but it's about doing the basics.

"I haven't had any contact yet (from England), I'm sure they've had their hands full at what has been a brilliant Ashes series but I've got my fingers crossed and hopefully I've shown them what I've gone away to work on and hopefully my name is in the reckoning."

The South Africa-born player has not made a Test appearance for England yet, though he has played 24 ODIs and 23 T20s. While he is not thought to be consistent enough to bowl for long spells in Tests, he hopes he will get there one day.

The paceman added: "I've got ambitions to play Test cricket, that's obviously my aim. I've tested myself at One Day Internationals, t20 and now one of my aims is to play Test Match cricket.

"Currently we have a very, very successful side so it's going to be hard. Hopefully playing here at the Kia Oval on some difficult wickets while proving to be successful will put me in good stead."