Flower reveals he’s only seen Dernbach bowl once
ENGLAND head coach Andy Flower insists he’s happy for Surrey paceman Jade Dernbach to be part of the squad for this week’s second Test against Sri Lanka despite having seen him bowl just once in the flesh.
The 25-year-old (right) replaces the injured James Anderson, who was unable to bowl in Monday’s thrilling victory over the tourists at Cardiff, in a 12-man squad which now contains five South African-born players.
Dernbach earned his first senior call-up on the back of some impressive displays for the England Lions during the winter and gave Sri Lanka a thorough workout in their tour match at Derby last month.
“I haven’t seen much of him to be honest,” admitted Flower. “I’ve seen him bowl once, at Derby against Sri Lanka, where I think he got nine wickets in the match and bowled very well.
“I don’t know him well as a person but he joined our squad right at the end of the World Cup campaign and fitted in well.
“The coaches have been impressed with him and we just wanted another option, with James Anderson stepping out, other than the tall bowler in Steven Finn.”
Meanwhile, England will leapfrog South Africa into second in the ICC?world Test rankings, potentially their highest ever position, should they win the final two Tests of the series at Lord’s and the Rose Bowl.