For the majority of county cricketers, the culmination of the summer season means a month of relaxation through October.

Not the case for Nottinghamshire left-armer Harry Gurney, who was selected to travel to Australia and perform specialist net duties for the English batsmen.

“It was a great trip, and an excellent experience for me,” said Gurney.

“Mick rang me on the Friday night, and by Sunday I was on a plane to the other side of the world.

“I’ve come back with some knowledge which I hope to take into next season, and keep improving. 

Gurney joined Tymal Mills to offer specialist left-armed bowling to the English batsmen, given that Australia have relied on the likes of Mitchell Johnson in their pace attack. For him, getting involved with the English camp came quickly. 

“I was out of my comfort zone at first, there are some big, big personalities and some of the best cricketers in the world who I wasn’t familiar with on a personal level, apart from Broady and Swanny of course,” said Gurney. 

“To be out there and mix in with them was character building and provided me with great experience.

“The first week or so I kept my head down, didn’t want to impose on the group but they were brilliant, welcoming and really made us feel part of it.

“Andy Flower was at pains to involve us in everything, we were almost treated as part of the full time squad.

“It made settling in easy, and it meant we could integrate ourselves more and more as the trip went on.“

The likes of  Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell can only have benefitted from six weeks of specialist, left-arm practice. But for Gurney, it offered him a chance to make an impression to influential people in the game.

“My primary purpose was to be out there and helping them but, and Andy Flower said as much, it was a great opportunity for us too,” he said.

“We can impress on a stage where pretty much everyone who is important in English cricket is sat watching.

“I’ve learnt a lot from just being sat around the guys talking, seeing how they go around their business in situations, almost as much as the actual practice itself.

“It gives them an opportunity to take a little more notice of my county performances.

“I still have aspirations to play for England, and if I aim for 50 wickets in the championship, and perform consistently with the white ball, something like a lions tour shouldn’t be far away.”

Having returned to England with the start of the Ashes series, Gurney has had to adapt to another culture clash, back training in the height of the Nottinghamshire winter.

“It makes it easier when you’re coming back to the best city in the world. Sydney is up there as well,” said Gurney

“I got back and within two days flew out to visit my brother for a week or so, and was a godfather at the christening of my nephew.

“And then got straight back and after the American trip the jet lag disappeared quite quickly, so it was a case of getting back into training.

“It’s been hard work the lads have been training hard and are looking fit and strong.

“I’ve had two days back, and am already looking forward to the weekend, but I’ll be getting up to run around Wollaton Park tomorrow morning.”