The vast majority of professional cricketers – and most amateurs – know their averages, but the Nottinghamshire left arm seamer is not the average cricketer.

Armed with an economics degree from the University of Leeds, Gurney holds a keen interest in the stock market as he looks to what will happen beyond his playing days.

That is near impossible to comprehend at present considering the 27-year-old has just broken into the England limited overs sides, but he says forward thinking is essential in a career where the closing bell can ring at any time.

"I definitely have an interest in stocks and finance," said Gurney.

"Most players see their county careers end in their mid to late 30s if they are lucky to have a career that lasts that long.

"One day the contracts are going to dry up so you need a plan for the future. It may be that I have a wife and kids to support when it all finishes.

"I'm only 27 and hopefully I've got another ten years left, but I don't want to go into that meeting where I'm told I'm no longer required and leave in a blind panic.

"None of the other Notts lads are interested in stocks but a few have talked about coaching and the media. I guess I just like numbers."

At present it seems nothing can go wrong for Gurney after he impressed in his first full England ODI series, the 3-2 defeat against Sri Lanka.

However, there was a time when he admits he might have been swapping his whites for a suit and a sweaty commuter train.

He was released by Leicestershire in 2008 and then admirably swallowed his pride and accepted an offer to return to Grace Road to try and earn a new deal, surrounded by former team-mates sat on the security of a contract.

"It definitely didn't feel like this success would happen. There have been a couple of struggles along the way," he said. "The time when I got released by Leicestershire was a pretty dark one in 2008. That winter and the start of the following season was tough.

"I was basically on trial. I was lucky enough to be able to put a few good performances in for Leicestershire and then I eventually went on to move to Notts, where I couldn't be happier."

Gurney's debut season at Trent Bridge in 2012 was a success, but it was only at the end of last summer that he truly felt like his career was established.

"It was probably only the end of last season where I really thought it had turned for me," he said. "I took 78 wickets with 44 in the Championship, which wasn't considered my strongest suit.

"I certainly didn't see what happened this winter and at the start of this season coming though. There is always the next goal. Any English cricketer under 30 will want to play for England.

"I would love to be picked for the India ODI series and hopefully the ODI cricket thereafter, but even more short-term I want to get back in the Notts side and help us win games."

Gurney is facing a battle to play for the Outlaws in the Natwest T20 Blast tonight after suffering what initially looked like a serious ankle injury.

There were shades of Glenn McGrath at Edgbaston in 2005 when Gurney went down in a heap having stood on the ball in the warm-up before last Friday's comfortable win against Derbyshire Falcons.

He was able to play in that one, but it is not certain he will be able to face Birmingham Bears at Trent Bridge this evening (6pm).

"It was a freak accident where a ball rolled into my path in my run up and I managed to stand on it," he said.

"It felt pretty bad at the time. I got some pretty heavy strapping on it and managed to get through the game. It's progressing pretty well and I'm hopeful of being ready for Friday night."

The Outlaws are reasonably placed in the North Group, having won two of their four games. They have lost two in a row at home and Gurney is hopeful they can redress the balance tonight.

"We've lost the last couple of home games but I wasn't around for those," he said.

"I played against Lancashire when we won and played really well in front of a massive crowd. Hopefully we can do that again.

"Even though we won comfortably at Derbyshire there were areas where we didn't excel. There are things to work on and in many ways that's a good sign."

Read more news, previews and reports from the Nottingham Post here.

Notts Outlaws NatWest T20 Blast fixture and ticket information:

v Birmingham Bears – Friday 13 June 6pm BUY TICKETS
v Derbyshire Falcons – Friday 20 June 6pm BUY TICKETS
v Yorkshire Vikings – Saturday 28 June 2.30pm BUY TICKETS
v Leicestershire Foxes – Sunday 20 July 2.30pm BUY TICKETS

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