Nottinghamshire’s Harry Gurney looks set to make his England debut this morning against Scotland in the first international match on home soil this year.
After a winter in and among the England setup, Gurney narrowly missed out on selection for the limited-overs series against the West Indies earlier this spring, and was under no illusions of the personal importance that being handed his cap would bring.
“It would mean the world; it would be the best day of my life,” he said.
“Over in the West Indies, I didn’t quite get selected and that was frustrating, but I still loved every second of it.
“I came back hungry for more. Hopefully I get my chance on Friday and it would be a proud day for me and my family.
“It will be a great feeling of pride and maybe a few butterflies as well.”
Gurney’s flirtation with the England squad followed an excellent season with Nottinghamshire, ending the summer as the county’s leading wicket-taker. Now with the chance to impress on the international stage, he was keen to make sure that the heavy favourites did not stumble against a side keen to claim an English scalp.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the squad this winter, and hoped that it wouldn’t be my last involvement so to be involved in the first international engagement of this summer is really pleasing,” said Gurney.
You’re always striving to improve, maybe not necessarily adding a skill but improving the skills that you’ve got.
“That’s something you’re looking to do every day, take what you do at county level and if you get the chance at international level.”
“If you were to ask the bookies, I guess we would be heavy favourites,” he added.
“But you have to go into any fixture and bowl and bat as well as you can. If you don’t do that, you can get caught out.
“Whatever the XI is, they will be going out there giving 100 per cent to get a win for England.”
Should Gurney be selected, he’ll face Matt Cross, the young wicketkeeper who has been heavily involved with Nottinghamshire’s second eleven and academy sides.