The Hundred: Harry Gurney dismisses criticism over no British coaches
Watch The Hundred Draft live on Sky Sports from 7pm on Sunday
Thursday 17 October 2019 14:10, UK
Harry Gurney has defended the absence of British coaches in next year’s The Hundred and insisted the world's best will be in charge for the inaugural edition.
The ex-England fast bowler was chosen as an 'icon' player for Trent Rockets, which represents his county side Nottinghamshire, earlier this month and will be led by New Zealand's longest-serving and most successful captain Stephen Fleming next summer.
Gurney believes working with renowned coaches from around the world provides players with an opportunity to showcase their skills with the aim of potentially earning contracts in the Big Bash and the Indian Premier League.
"We have got an international class calibre coach," Gurney, who won the 2019 Caribbean Premier League on Saturday with Barbados Tridents, told Sky Sports News.
"As far as I am concerned I couldn't care less what the nationality of the coaches are as long as they are the best in the world, which clearly they are.
"It's a great opportunity for them to come and work in a franchise club in England and for us as players as well it now becomes a great shop window for us."
Gurney was joined by England Test captain Joe Root and fellow Trident team-mate Alex Hales in the Rockets side at the opening player picks.
The Rockets have the No 1 overall pick in The Hundred Draft on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, and 32-year-old Gurney has set his sights on playing alongside Rashid Khan and Andre Russell.
Fellow Nottinghamshire team-mate Samit Patel is one of the four top-priced English players in the draft with a reserve figure of £60k, and the former England all-rounder admitted it was a "tough decision" to set the price.
Asked whether he would like to play where he plays his county cricket, Patel said: "Absolutely, I think it is a great place to play cricket. I think we have all seen T20 nights on Friday's have been great. But it is a draft so you could go anywhere."
The Hundred Draft Live
Both players are excited about the introduction of the eight-team competition into the domestic game and Patel is confident it will receive widespread backing.
"It is going to be massive for cricket," Patel said. "We should all be excited. Fans, players, coaches. It is something new and we are trying to establish a new tournament."
The Hundred Draft - Live will be shown on Sky Sports Cricket, Main Event & Sky One from 7pm on Sunday. It will also be available via Sky Sports' Facebook and YouTube channels, as well as live on the Sky Sports app and streamed on skysports.com.
