Unknown Dernbach flies in prepared to seize late chance of World Cup glory

“I’m over the moon about it. I’ve not really had time for it to sink in,” he said. “But it’s absolutely wonderful.”

He is vowing to bring with him a fresh energy, as well as plenty of slower-ball variations, if he gets his chance.

“It will be the same as I approach any preparation for a game,” he added. “You’ve got to expect to play at any opportunity.

“I want to make sure all my preparation has been top-drawer, and I’m ready to step in and do a great job for my country.

“I’ve got a lot to offer, a lot of variations, and I’ve got a bit of pace. I enjoy bowling at the death.

“They are all important areas in one-day cricket. So if I get the opportunity I hope I can bring them to the quarter-final.”

England identified Dernbach, ahead of Chris Woakes among the other likely candidates to replace Shahzad, because of his adeptness with changes of pace.

“You’ve got to have that sort of variation in general in one-day cricket, no matter what sort of wickets you come across,” he said.

Despite an arduous Ashes and World Cup winter, Dernbach says his new colleagues remain full of enthusiasm.

“The boys are in high spirits and I want to bring some energy, some excitement, show a bit of myself and give as much as I can to the team.”

Dernbach is confident, having experienced Indian conditions with England’s fast-bowling programme in Chennai, that he will be able to adapt quickly to requirements.

“I’m sure it will be a different challenge,” he added. “But I’ve spent a bit of time over in India, played some cricket out there, and I’m sure some of the pitches we’ve come across on the A tour in the West Indies will be similar to what we’ll get out here.”

His South African roots are shared by a clutch of his new colleagues. But like Strauss and wicketkeeper Matt Prior, Dernbach learned his profession in England.

“I didn’t play any cricket at all really in South Africa,” he said. “I moved over when I was 14, so all my cricket has been played in England. That’s where I call home, and the place that has given me the opportunity to come and play here.”

The man he has replaced, Shahzad, believes England are the best team in the world on their day and are capable of adding the World Cup to their Ashes victory.

Shahzad is back in England after withdrawing from the squad with a hamstring complaint but he is hoping his team-mates can go all the way in his absence.

“We showed in the Ashes how formidable we are in Test cricket and everybody watched that and knows what we are capable of doing,” he said.

“In one-day cricket we have a lot of the same players and we’ve got some fresh boys in there, too as well as the experience. It’s not only the 11, it’s who is there in the ranks waiting for their chance.

“We are the best team in the world on our day and if we can fire, we’ll come out on top. The boys have a hard two weeks in front of them but they can get to the final.”