SURREY bowler Jade Dernbach will be out of action for the next three to four weeks as he recovers from a side strain sustained while bowling against the Middlesex Panthers last week.

Dernbach, who has been the leading first-class wicket taker for the Lions this season, suffered the injury at a devastating time as he had just been selected for the England Lions squad.

The rehabilitation process means he will now be out of action for the remainder of the Friends Provident T20 campaign.

The injury was sustained after Dernbach caught his studs in the turf while bowling on Thursday night, causing him to come down heavier during his action and tearing an intercostal muscle in his side.

Surrey professional cricket manager Chris Adams said: "We were all very pleased when we took the phone call from Geoff Miller telling us Jade had been selected. This had come off the back of some sustained quality performances and was very well deserved.

"His injury has come at the worst possible moment for him but his time will definitely come and he is now in the selectors' minds in terms of squads that will be selected in future."

Surrey lead physiotherapist Alex Tysoe added: "We are only days into the injury at present, so we're treating it conservatively with lots of ice, rest and compression. Later this week we will start the rehabilitation process."

In other injury news, long term absentee Michael Brown is progressing well from the damaged tendons in his left elbow. He is practising with softer balls in the nets and is due to start hitting cricket balls again soon.

Chris Jordan is continuing his rehabilitation process in the gym and is due to visit a specialist again at the beginning of July.