BBL winner's hilarious response to 'Mr Bean' barbs

Big Bash winner Harry Gurney has responded in the best possible way to suggestions he is a handy fourth grade bowler who looks more like Mr bean than a professional cricketer.

The Renegades fast bowler helped his side seal a maiden Big Bash title after a stunning collapse from Melbourne rivals, the Stars, in Sunday’s decider.

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During his commentary for Fox Sports, Aussie legend Mark Waugh likened the 32-year-old Englishman to the comically goofy character Mr Bean, played by comedian Rowan Atkinson.

“He reminds me of a left-arm Mr Bean, Harry Gurney,” Waugh said.

“He’s the sort of player, if he rocked up to play fourth grade for Bankstown and you watched him bowl you’d say, ‘Yeah OK, we’ll give him another game’.

“I’m not saying he’s not a good bowler but just his appearance and what you see …”

The player himself took the unflattering comments in his stride, hitting back with a classy response of his own.

“I’ve often over the years jokingly referred to myself as a professional cricketer playing with a 50-year-old accountant’s body,” Gurney said.

“I’m not the most athletic, I think I’ve had some strength and conditioning coaches tear their hair out over the years with me.

“There would be a few accountants playing fourth grade cricket so it’s probably a fair assessment.”

Gurney’s teammate Dan Christian – whose 38 not out (from 30 balls) helped steer the Renegades to victory – had nothing but praise for the bowler after the final.

“He’s (Gurney) an absolute gun. He’s the best death bowler I’ve played with anywhere around the world,” Christian said.

“I’d love to see Mark Waugh face him at the death, I don’t think he’d be able to get him.

“He’s got too many tricks, he bowls the perfect yorker, he’s a gun so I was really pleased for him to close that game out for us again.

“He did a great job for us all season.”

Christian became part of his seventh career Twenty20 title-winning team after his player-of-the-match performance helped his side to an unlikely win over the Stars.

Christian combined with Tom Cooper (43 from 35) for an unbeaten 80-run partnership from 58 balls after the Renegades slumped to 5-65 after being sent in at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.

He then turned in figures of 2-33 from four overs as the Stars lost 7-19, taking the wickets of Seb Gotch and danger man Dwayne Bravo.

It was a standout performance that helped the 35-year-old to his second BBL title, having won with the Brisbane Heat in BBL02, after tasting success in South African, English and Caribbean leagues.

“I think I’ve just been really lucky with the teams that I’ve played with,” Christian said.

“These (Renegades) guys were wonderful guys to play with.

“But it was a bit of a weird one with this team … we scrapped really well all year.

“We didn’t dominate anyone in any game, we just kept pulling rabbits out of a hat somewhere or somehow whether it be with the bat or the ball.”

Batting down the order, Christian made 254 runs and took 15 wickets after he was lured from the Hobart Hurricanes at the end of last season.

Even with his extensive T20 resume, Christian struggled to remember a comeback from the depths of despair as jaw-dropping as the Renegades’ stunner against the Stars.

“It was a pretty special one … I’ve never been part of a team that’s come back from a situation like that,” he said.

“(They were) 0-93 chasing 146 … it was just extraordinary.

“We were 5-65 then fought back well.

“Then the Stars came out and played really well then we fought back well again.

“It’s a testament to the guys and the way they played all season, I think.”

With AAP