“When the selectors sit down to make that squad hopefully I get my place”
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England left-arm pace bowler Harry Gurney is determined to cement his spot in the country’s World Cup squad during the upcoming seven-match ODI series against Sri Lanka.
Gurney will be an extremely valuable asset for England during the tour, especially since the regular pace duo of Stuart Broad and James Anderson have been ruled out as they are both recovering from knee injuries. In addition to this, Gurney is the only left-arm bowler in the England side for this series.
“I think I have got a lot to offer. I am the only left armer involved in this squad,” Gurney told Sky Sports. “It’s been coming out quite well in the nets. In those games hopefully I will offer something a little bit different. When the selectors sit down to make that squad hopefully I get my place.”
While heavy rain has been a major problem for England since they arrived in Sri Lanka, Gurney remains optimistic that the national team’s warm-up match against Sri Lanka A will go ahead as scheduled.
“Being English, we’re all used to a bit of rain. So that doesn’t bother anyone really,” he said. “Turning up and having slightly damp footholds is not something any of us are fazed by.
“Most of the ODIs have reserve days, so I think we’ll probably get a conclusion in most of, if not, all the games.
“If there are shorter games, it gives us the opportunity to go out there and maybe approach it with a different tactic.
“You’re going to get presented with circumstances like that in World Cups. So why not be prepared for it?”
Gurney also hopes that Anderson makes a speedy recovery since he will be a vital part of the team during the 2015 World Cup.
“Yeah, I guess with Jimmy dropping out reasonably late on and not being replaced it means that all of us seamers that are in the squad will get more opportunities and more time in the limelight to show what we’ve got,” he said. “I am taking that as a massive positive from our perspective and hopefully Jimmy recovers quickly and is ready.”