Harry Gurney retires from cricket at age of 34

Harry Gurney, the Nottinghamshire and England seamer who became a fixture on the T20 franchise circuit, has announced his retirement from cricket at the age of 34.

Gurney announced the decision after failing to recover from a shoulder injury that caused him to miss Nottinghamshire's triumphant campaign in last season's Vitality Blast.

However, Gurney claimed three one-day trophies with Nottinghamshire in the course of his career - two List A finals at Lord's, and the 2017 Vitality Blast title, in which he claimed figures of 7 for 36 across their two fixtures on Finals Day at Edgbaston.

"The time has arrived for me to hang up my boots," Gurney told the club website. "After trying to recover from the recent injury to my shoulder, I am truly disappointed to have to end my playing career as a result of it.

"From the first time I picked up a cricket ball at the age of ten, I was completely obsessed. Cricket has been my life for 24 years and has taken me on an incredible journey that I will cherish forever."

As a left-arm seamer with a natural ability to swing the ball, Gurney played 12 times for England, all in 2014 - 10 ODIs and two T20Is - but enjoyed significantly more success on the T20 domestic circuit, with trophy-winning stints at Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash and Barbados Tridents in the CPL. He also represented Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, and Quetta Gladiators in the PSL.

"Playing for England, in the IPL and winning eight trophies at home and abroad including the Blast, Big Bash and CPL has exceeded my wildest dreams," he said.

Outside of cricket, Gurney runs a pub company, the Cat and Wickets, with his Nottinghamshire and England team-mate Stuart Broad. Although the duo confirmed on Thursday that they would not be renewing the lease on their original Leicestershire project, The Three Crowns, in Wymeswold, near Loughborough, due to the impact of Covid-19, Gurney says he will be continuing in the hospitality industry.

"I always prepared for leaving cricket and I have discovered a new path in business that gives me the same excitement that I felt when I discovered the game all those years ago," he said.

"That is a path I will now go down with immediate effect, as I have found this injury recovery too much of a mountain to climb."

Mick Newell, who brought Gurney to Nottinghamshire ahead of the 2012 season, highlighted his achievements in both the red- and white-ball game.

"Harry has been a terrific, match winning, bowler for this club for a number of years," Newell said.

"He's carved out a niche in limited-overs competitions in recent times and been very successful in that at home and abroad, but his record in the First-Class game is something he can be immensely proud of as well.

"Harry sets a good example to all cricketers in that he's prepared himself for life after the game, and that is something I hope will make the transition a lot easier.

"He moves into a new phase of his life with the very best wishes of everyone at Trent Bridge, and we hope to see him as a welcome visitor on a regular basis during the coming years."