Hurry joins up with England camp (From Bridgwater Mercury)

Hurry joins up with England camp

7:00am Monday 13th February 2012 in Somerset CCC

SOMERSET have three representatives in the England camp for the ODI and T20 matches against Pakistan, because Andy Hurry the county’s head coach is working alongside Andy Flower as one of his assistants for the series.

Hurry began his career as a physical training instructor in the Royal Marines, before starting off with Somerset on a consultancy basis working with some of the injured players back in 2001, so he has come a long way since then.

He explained: “I was originally asked to go out to work alongside the England coaching team for the one-day series to gain some experience as part of my personal development.

“However Richard Halsall, who is one of the assistant coaches is returning home because his wife is having a baby, so I will now be working in his place and helping Andy Flower and make up the numbers in the support staff as well. I will be another pair of hands to help and someone else to bounce a few ideas off.”

Before he set off, Hurry said: “I am very excited about the whole thing because it’s an ambition of mine, and has been since I was a young schoolboy, to get involved with a full England team.

“This is a reflection on what has been achieved by the Somerset team because, as any coach will say, you are only as good as the team. I have been very fortunate to work with a highly successful and talented side.”

The Somerset head coach flew out to Abu Dhabi last week in preparation for the game between England and England Lions and will remain with the England camp until the end of the tour on February 28.

Hurry will be linking up with Somerset players Jos Buttler and Craig Kieswetter who are both in the England ODI and T20 squads.

Hurry is no stranger to that part of the world because he had a year working in Abu Dhabi back in 2005 before returning to Somerset as head coach, a post he has held ever since.

Somerset captain Marcus Trescothick said: “It’s great experience for Andy to be involved and gain an insight into what the international arena is all about and work with Andy Flower and all of the players who will be out there.

“I know that he was really excited about getting out there and it will be brilliant for him to see what it's all about.

“I think it is a well earned reward for all of the hard work that he has put in back here. We have been on the up and up for the last four or five years and Andy has been at the forefront of that, so to get that reward and go right to the top is what everybody aspires to and dreams of.”

During Hurry’s three week absence Jason Kerr the 2nd XI coach and Director of the Academy will oversee the winter training programme back at the County Ground.