Dernbach in England performance squad

Jade Dernbach is the only uncapped player named in England's 27-man performance squad ahead of the summer campaign. The 24-year-old Surrey seamer has been included for the first time after he was last week called up as a replacement in England's World Cup squad for Michael Yardy.

Spinner Yardy has kept his place in the performance squad ahead of the visits of Sri Lanka and India while Durham seamer Graham Onions, who missed all of last season owing to a back injury that required surgery in September, is also included. Otherwise there were no major surprises in a squad that includes all 16 members of the Ashes-winning party in Australia this winter, as well as those called up for the subsequent one-day international series and World Cup. The squad also has room for the addition of three more players during the summer.

MCC yesterday completed a comprehensive 174-run victory over Nottinghamshire in the season opening Champion County match in Abu Dhabi. Rahul Dravid registered the first ton of the domestic season, moving from 81 not out overnight to 106, while Afghan bowlers took five of the Nottinghamshire wickets to fall in their second innings.

Hamid Hassan took 3 for 82 (to complete match figures of 7 for 127) and Mohammad Nabi took 2 for 56 as Nottinghamshire were bowled out for 293.