Sunday’s NatWest T20 Blast fixture against Durham Jets commences a run of six consecutive days of first team cricket – and Harry Gurney is cranking up his workload to make sure he’s ready.

The Nottinghamshire left-arm paceman is currently in three-day action for the Club’s second eleven at Stowe versus Northamptonshire. 

But, although he is happy with his T20 form having conceded just 46 runs in two matches, Gurney will also be finding time to practice his white ball skills between now and the visit of the table-topping Jets. 

“With the schedule we’ve got coming up, we’ve got six days in a row with a championship game sandwiched between two T20s, so there’s going to be an element of squad rotation that comes into it,” said the 28-year-old.

“You have to be quite shrewd with the way you prepare. 

“Myself and Jake Ball are down here now bowling with the red ball, then we’ll probably come in to Trent Bridge on Saturday to have a bowl with the white ball as well and try to tick that box.

“It’s a busy month coming up but one we’re all looking forward to and, come the end of it, we’ll hopefully be sat in a much better position in the championship table and up there in T20 as well.

“There is a gap in fixtures for the first team this week so the second team game is a bit of an opportunity for those of us that feel like we need a little bit of extra cricket, or that Mick (Newell) feels need extra cricket, to go and get some overs under our belts.

“Myself in particular, I’ve not bowled as well as I would have liked in the last two championship matches, or taken as many wickets as I would have liked, so this was a chance for me to get some overs under my belt and try to find a bit of rhythm.

“I’m really chuffed with the way I’m bowling in T20. I feel like that’s an area of my game that’s pretty much under control and I feel confident that I’m going to perform pretty consistently.

“There are differences between that and the red ball game and that’s where I’m not bowling quite as well at the moment. 

“I just need to spend some time in the middle and hopefully I’ll come back fighting in the next championship game I’m selected for.”

Notts’ most recent NatWest T20 Blast fixture versus Yorkshire Vikings on Friday night ended in a six-wicket defeat after the Outlaws posted 143-7 from 20 overs.

It was a total someway short of par according to Gurney, who believes the addition of Darren Sammy and the returning Alex Hales could make all the difference to the outcome on Sunday. 

“Unfortunately we were 20 runs short against Yorkshire,” he said. “We needed 160 to be competitive.

“But it’s not something we’re particularly worried about. Obviously we always want to win in-front of the fans down at Trent Bridge, but we feel like in the T20 Blast format we are playing really good cricket.

“Everybody is confident about what their roles are, we’ve got Alex Hales to come back into the team and Darren Sammy as well, so that will really add some strength in depth.

“The beauty of our top six, seven, even eight batsmen is they’re all capable of playing those match-winning innings.

“The day before T20 started we had a middle practice at Lady Bay. Myself, Jake and Luke Fletcher were bowling and we all agreed; thank God we get to play with these guys and don’t have to play against them.

“Add Darren Sammy to that and all-in-all, with regards the batting side of things, being slightly below par the other day was a very temporary little blip.

“I’ve not played against Darren before. I was on the tour of the Caribbean last spring for three ODIs and three T20s, so I’ve seen a fair bit of him at close quarters and sat in meetings where we have discussed him.

“That’s obviously going to be something we don’t have to worry about. Hopefully we’ll be sat on the balcony watching him hit some big bombs.”

 

 

Notts Outlaws NatWest T20 Blast Fixtures & Ticket Information

v Durham Jets – Sunday 31 May 2.30pm BUY TICKETS
v Leicestershire Foxes – Friday 5 June 6.30pm BUY TICKETS
v Northamptonshire Steelbacks – Saturday 27 June 2.30pm BUY TICKETS
v Worcestershire Rapids – Friday 3 July 6.30pm BUY TICKETS
v Derbyshire Falcons – Friday 10 July 6.30pm BUY TICKETS

Need more information? Call our ticket office on 0844 8118711.