IPL 2019 | Being defensive effectively allows me to get wickets, reveals Harry Gurney

SportsCafe Desk

BySportsCafe Desk, SportsCafe Editor

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Kolkata Knight Riders’ fresh recruit Harry Gurney has revealed that being a defensive bowler has helped him pick up more wickets in the shorter format of the game in recent months. The Dinesh Karthik-led franchise starts their season against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Gurney was a rather unknown name across domestic T20 leagues a year ago but a stint with the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League shot the British cricketer to fame in a matter of months. Gurney was part of the title-winning Renegades squad led by current Australian captain Aaron Finch who lifted their maiden BBL trophy last year. Gurney impressed in the domestic league after he bagged 10 wickets at an economy rate of just 7.17. Half-way through the season, Kolkata Knight Riders' analysts witnessed Gurney produce match-winning bowling performances and on December 18, he was purchased by the two-time IPL champions for INR 75 lakh.

Gurney, who also went on to feature in the Pakistan Super League for the Quetta Gladiators, revealed that bowling defensively has helped him pick up more wickets in the T20 format over the last year or so.

"Probably the main reason why I've had T20 success is the nature of my bowling action - it's a bit unorthodox. I've been told by batsmen for many years that makes it slightly difficult to pick my variations, compared to someone with a clean action. Plus, I'm always trying my best to evolve and add different tricks - not necessarily a new slower ball, but I'll start bowling a wide slower ball. The latest thing I'm doing is going around the wicket to left-handers, bowling at their heels. So there's a lot one can do.

"I think I'm better as a defensive bowler, that's how I've carved my career, but at the same time my strike rate is pretty good. My belief is that being defensive effectively allows me to get wickets. To be a wicket-taker, you don't necessarily have to run in with two slip fielders in place. Since I first started playing T20 cricket at Leicestershire, all my focus was to restrict the scoring. And these days, statistics show that wickets are maybe not as valuable as people once thought. So my priority has always been on maintaining a solid economy rate. I would much rather get 0 for 20 instead of 4 for 40. And this, throughout my career, has led to me being a wicket-taker," Gurney said in a recent interview with Cricinfo.

Gurney has featured in 10 ODI’s and two T20I’s for the English cricket team, is eager to perform well in the upcoming IPL season with the Kolkata Knight Riders who begin their season with an interesting tie against last year’s runners-up, Sunrisers Hyderabad.

"Performing well and winning the trophy in the Big Bash put me in good stead. Plus the PSL didn't feature too much there but I've taken that as a positive. It means I'm fresher for the IPL.

"I feel match-ready, and after experiencing the Melbourne derby, I've learned to perform under pressure in front of big crowds. It's not like I'm coming from degree-level cricket. This is the big leagues, so this is the one I want to perform well in and show the world what I can do," Gurney added.

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