He had relative success in Leicestershire's second team and made his first team debut in the 2007 season.

Gurney has also played for Loughborough Town CC and the Leeds/Bradford UCCE, for whom he has taken the wicket of ex-England Test Captain Michael Vaughan.^[3]

In 2009 Gurney shone in T20, taking 8 wickets at an average of 23. However, he struggled to make an impact in the longer form of the game, averaging over 50 in the second division of the County Championship. The following year, Gurney's Twenty20 form dipped, although he improved in the Championship, averaging just over 33.

In 2011 Gurney proved adept particularly in Twenty 20 matches, taking 23 victims during Leicestershire's title winning campaign, although he missed out on Finals Day due to injury. He was though, part of the Foxes squad in the 2011 Champions League Twenty20 which took place in India. He took 5 wickets in the tournament although Leicester lost both their games in the competition.

in 2012 Gurney left Leicestershire to join Nottinghamshire, following the same path as Stuart Broad and James Taylor. Although he was seen as a one-day specialist, Gurney also featured in the County Championship Division One for the first time in his career. Notts failed to win a trophy but Gurney established himself as an integral part of the team, particularly in the shorter formats of the game.

In 2013 Gurney was Nottinghamshire's leading wicket taker. As well as taking a hat trick in the County Championship, Gurney performed well in the Yorkshire Bank 40 competition, which Nottinghamshire eventually went on to win. Comparisons were made with former Nottinghamshire bowler Ryan Sidebottom, as both are left armed and rely on getting the ball to swing.

Following his good form for Nottinghamshire, Gurney was called up to the England side for the limited overs tour of the West Indies. He did not play, but retained his place in the squad for the ODI against Scotland. Gurney did not take a wicket on his debut in what proved to be a rain affected match. Gurney was selected to play in the T20 match against Sri Lanka, taking figures of 2–26, although England went on to lose the match. Gurney took figures of 2–20 on his ODI debut and kept his place in the team, taking 3–59 in the next match. Gurney starred as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 67 in the third match as England took a 2–1 lead in the series. In the fourth ODI Gurney took 4 wickets but England went on to lose the match. In the series decider, Gurney was wicket less and Sri Lanka went on to win the match and the series 3–2.

Gurney was selected in the limited overs squad against India, although he only appeared in the fourth match of the series, taking figures of 1–51. He played in the only T20 match between the sides, taking 1–29 to help England win the game.

Gurney was selected on the limited overs tour of Sri Lanka. He played in the first game, but took figures of 0–66. He kept his place for the next game but again finished without a wicket as England again lost. His last appearance came in the final match of the series, where he picked up his first wicket of the tour, finishing with figures of 1–60.