Mick Newell says Nottinghamshire bowler Harry Gurney need not become a forgotten man when it comes to playing for England again.

The left-armer was omitted from the World Cup squad on the eve of the tournament after, by his own omission, failing to find his best form on the warm-up tour of Sri Lanka.

However, Gurney appears to have escaped the mental scars of seeing his dream shattered having enjoyed a good winter with England Lions in South Africa.

He has backed that up with a strong start to the County Championship with nine wickets, eight of which have been top six batsmen, in two games.

The 28-year-old missed the trip to Hampshire with a groin injury, but is hoping to be fit to take on Durham from Sunday.

National selector and Notts director of cricket Newell says it is essential he picks up from where he left off if he wants to add to his ten One Day International and two Twenty20 caps.


"I think in white-ball cricket he has an opportunity to play for England," Newell said.

"He has got to show good form in four-day cricket and if he is taking wickets in four-day cricket that will help his white-ball case.

"I think England do want a left-arm fast bowler but I think it's got to be a good quality left-arm bowler.

"They can't just pick people because they bowl left-arm, so he's got an opportunity amongst a growing bunch of left-arm fast bowlers to compete for a place."

While Gurney will want to get back in the England team, he has to contend with a threat from within when it comes to his Notts place with 19-year-old Luke Wood impressing against Hampshire.

Newell believes there are still areas the former Leicestershire man can improve on to make sure he does not take a backward step in his game.

"He either puts on a yard of pace or he learns to swing the ball into right handers, which he does not particularly do," said Newell.

"That's his dilemma. I think it's unlikely that he's ever going to get up to Starc's (Australia international Mitchell Starc) sort of pace, but he's certainly got the ability to swing the ball and that will give him another asset that he doesn't currently have.

"It's not overly difficult for him to learn how to swing the ball.

"It's a technical thing, it's a wrist position and that's certainly possible and is something he has been working on since he came back from the England Lions over the winter."

For more Nottinghamshire news, previews and match reports visit the Nottingham Post.

 

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