19 Mar 2011

Little known bowler joins England squad

6:35 am on 19 March 2011

Jade Dernbach, a little-known South African-born bowler, will replace the injured Ajmal Shahzad in England's cricket World Cup squad.

Shahzad became England's third World Cup casualty since the tournament began with a hamstring injury, pulling out on Thursday.

Dernbach, 24, a right-arm, medium-fast bowler with Surrey, was in England's original 30-man squad for the World Cup but failed to make the final 15 and has been touring the Caribbean with England Lions.

England's World Cup hopes are still in the balance following a spectacularly inconsistent campaign that included a tied match against India and defeats by Ireland and Bangladesh.

If Bangladesh pull off an upset against South Africa on Saturday and West Indies beat India the next day, that would end England's campaign in the tournament.