Surrey's Rory Hamilton-Brown put his future before his country after being forced to pull out of England's U19 tour of Malaysia at the end of the month.

The Wandsworth-based middle order batsman was named as captain for the first time but last week lost his race to recover from surgery on a shoulder injury sustained in November.

Hamilton-Smith, who also had a spell with Guinness Premiership rugby side NEC Harlequins, has been ordered to continue his rehabilitation at home and will skip the triangular one-day tour to the sub-continent.

The 19-year-old believes the move will safeguard his attempts to progress in his professional career.

"I'm obviously very disappointed to miss out," he said.

"Any opportunity to play for your country is an honour.

"To captain the side is something I have never done before so it was even more disappointing.

"I could go, but I can only bowl at 80 per cent and throw at 70 per cent, so I wouldn't be totally effective.

"I sat down with the Surrey and England physios and it was decided I wouldn't get a great deal from it.

"Hopefully, I have a decent career ahead of me and to risk going when not fully fit could put that in jeopardy, so it was probably the best decision.

"A couple of the guys I have played against in the U19s have been included in senior one-day squads for their counties, which is an inspiration."

The former Millfield School student hit two centuries in seven appearances - with a best of 139 not out against Esher - to help Weybridge avoid relegation from the Surrey Championship Premier Division in 2006.

He teamed up with Surrey coach Gavin Franklin to get more opportunities to improve his off-spin bowling, which he hopes may force him into the Surrey one-day side this year.

Hamilton-Brown also matched his form with the bat for England against an outstanding Indian team in the summer, peaking with a score of 81 not out as his side went down in the final match to lose the series 1-0.

Although injury may have stunted his progress on the international scene for now, a winter spent at Loughborough University training with England A will boost his chances of pressing a claim for a first-team slot at the Brit Oval.

Even then, he doesn't expect to cement a regular place in the Surrey four-day batting line-up, given the talented stroke-makers the county possess.

"You would struggle to find a better top six in the country than Surrey's, with the likes of Mark Butcher, Mark Ramprakash and Scott Newman," he said.

"I don't like to set myself massive targets, but a big thing for me would be to dominate second XI cricket this season with the bat and get a few starts in the one day team, if I can develop my bowling.

"I hope to play more for Weybridge - but not too much more because, if I am, it means I won't be doing well for Surrey and England.

"If I can keep getting extensions to my contract, in a couple of years, when the senior players finally step aside, I will be ready to move up.

"I'm Surrey through-and-through. There is no better place to play cricket and I think my chance here will come."