Born in South Africa but a graduate of the Surrey Academy, Jade Dernbach became Surrey's youngest debutant for 30 years when he played against India A in 2003, at the age of 17. In 2005 he was thrust into the spotlight when selected to play against Lancashire in the semi-final of the Twenty20 cup, although with figures of 0 for 52, he was clearly under-prepared. His first-team chances were limited thereafter, although he showed some potential in the seconds, claiming 46 wickets at 25 to finish the 2006 season as the Surrey's leading wicket-taker. A spell in Australia, playing grade cricket in Sydney for Randwick/Petersham, helped to improve his allround game, and his first hint of international recognition came in 2009 when he was called up to the ECB Fast Bowling Programme in Florida and Chennai. He was part of the Performance squad during the Ashes winter in 2010-11, and was playing in the Caribbean for England Lions when he heard of his call-up to the World Cup squad, as a replacement for Ajmal Shahzad.
Ben Horne March 2011