Chris Adams has warned the Surrey faithful not to expect too much from the Brown Caps this season. On the evidence of their opening championship game, the Surrey manager has a point.

Despite having the likes of Mark Ramprakash, Mark Butcher and, as is rumoured, Harbhajan Singh to come in, it is hard to see Surrey pushing for an immediate return to Division One.

Gloucestershire had the upper hand in at least five of the seven sessions contested at the Brit Oval last week and the draw means Surrey have now equalled the second longest spell in their 164-year history without a first-class win – 16 matches (the longest being 22, straddling the end of 1901 and the beginning of 1902).

After making their lowest first innings total at the Oval since 1999, the home side, following-on, soon found themselves faltering once more at 24 for two. Had it not been for Usman Afzaal's belligerent 65 they would have been totally shamed.

For Surrey, there were just three positives to come from the game – Afzaal's batting, plus the bowling of Andre Nel and his new-ball partner Jade Dernbach.

Dernbach said: "For the first run out I was pretty happy. The first spell didn't go too well, but I came back strong and had a good last session. The ball came out a treat. I've been a bit hit and miss with my slower ball, but even that came out well."

Dernbach was all the more delighted since he had not seen much action during pre-season, due to the broken thumb he picked up in December while on the ECB elite fast bowler development programme in Florida.

"There are no problems with the thumb now. It's 100 per cent. It was good to get a good run out, to get some overs under my belt. Mileage – that's all I felt I needed," said the 23-year-old.

"With having so much time off I think the base that I'd built pre-Christmas, by going to Florida, held me in good stead. So, the minute I got over my injury and started bowling I just picked up where I left off."

When asked what he thought of the new make of ball being trialled in Division Two this season, Dernbach said: "There's been a lot of talk about the Tiflex balls, and, to be honest, they're not as good as the Dukes balls. I think that's plain to see. They're losing their shape early. The only good thing is they do swing for the time they stay hard. How long they stay hard for is the problem. So, it's going to be hard work for the bowlers in Division Two this year."

Dernbach paid tribute to his new-ball partner, the abrasive Andre Nel, Dernbach said: "The attention goes off me now, which I don't mind. Everyone's looking at him, so, hopefully, I can sneak in the back door and take a few wickets this year, whilst everyone's looking at him.

"He's a world-class bowler so I'm just hoping to learn a few things off him that will help my career."

Asked what Nel was like away from the heat of battle, Dernbach said: "He's actually a great bloke off the field. He's always willing to have a chat and to put an arm around you when you need it. He's been great so far."