BECKENHAM: Hosts England have received a significant boost ahead of their three-match home Test series against Pakistan as their emerging opener Emilio Gay, who suffered an injury scare last week, is set to partake in the three-day practice match against the visitors, scheduled to begin on Thursday.
The 26-year-old top-order batter had become doubtful for the upcoming international assignment after being forced to retire hurt while representing Durham in the One-Day Cup match against Middlesex last Friday.
Gay initially felt discomfort in his right shoulder in the sixth over of Durham’s innings before hurting it further at the start of the seventh as he struck a straight drive off Toby Roland-Jones.
Consequently, a member of the Durham medical team rushed onto the field to assess Gay before escorting the opener, who could score nine off 17 deliveries. However, in a positive development for England, Gay, alongside Shoaib Bashir and Matthew Fisher, has been named in a 14-man squad to play for the Professional County Club (PCC) Select XI in the three-day tour match against Pakistan.
Gay’s inclusion in the tour match suggests that the 26-year-old opener is expected to be fully fit for the Test series, while Bashir, who has been in limbo for the past month, is unlikely to feature against Pakistan as the hosts are expected to pick four seamers and rely on Dan Lawrence’s offspin.
Notably, the practice match was originally scheduled to commence on August 11 but was delayed by a day with mutual consensus to help England field the strongest possible invitational side ahead of the first Test, scheduled to be played in Leeds from August 19 to 23.
PCC Select XI squad: Tom Haines (c), Shoaib Bashir, Luc Benkenstein, Caleb Falconer, Matt Fisher, Emilio Gay, Nathan Gilchrist, Josh Hull, Manny Lumsden, James Rew, James Sales, Charlie Tear, Noah Thain, Saif Zaib.
