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England debutant Emilio Gay has enjoyed a pinch-himself moment and endured a kick-himself moment in his first two days as a Test cricketer.
The Durham batsman, who replaced the dropped Jack Crowley as Ben Duckett’s opening partner, said Ollie Robinson’s triple-wicket maiden on the opening night against New Zealand at Lord’s really hit home as an international.
Gay took the catch at short leg to remove the brilliant Kane Williamson off the bowling of Robinson and when the seamer then handed out a golden duck to Rachin Ravindra, amid cheers from the home fans, England’s rookies were stunned.
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Ollie Robinson took three wickets in an over on the opening evening at Lord’s
The 26-year-old, who scored eight and 57 in the fast-paced Test, told reporters: “Robo was taking a hat-trick. I was at short leg and the crowd was loud. That’s when I thought, ‘This is great’.”
“I think Sonny Baker (not selected in the England XI) came to stand at mid-on or midwicket. I was looking at him and he was looking at me. We spoke afterwards and it was like: ‘Can you believe it? It’s mental. It’s what we’re doing’.
“When I was batting, watching the ball, trying to get stuck but when I was fielding, especially when the wicket was falling (when it sank).
“I think the fielders think I’m daydreaming but I’m not. I’m just trying to get everything together. It’s not going to be really good like these last two days, so hopefully it stays that way.”
Gay earned his England call-up after a string of scores for Durham in county cricket
‘I did all the hard work’
A disappointment for Gay was his dismissal in the second innings.
Playing with confidence in a knock that contained eight boundaries, he caught Nathan Smith as the clouds rolled in.
The debutant’s departure led to a four-run fall as New Zealand sent Harry Brook, Joe Root and Ben Stokes packing in quick succession.
It may not come in the final analysis, with the Kiwis already 36-3 chasing 254 on a spicy surface, but it still ranks with Gay, who said: “I was disappointed when I got out – overhead, the lights were on and Brookie and Ruti soon followed.
“There was a natural disappointment that I had worked all hard, faced about 100 balls, so the timing of it was a bit disappointing. I got a pretty good ball but it felt like a real change of pace.”
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Gay hit two fours in his first Test on Thursday before being dropped by Kyle Jamieson
‘McCollum and Stokes gave me confidence’
That moment will not detract from the few days of “dreaming” for Gay, witnessing his England in such a prestigious place and with his family there.
His ascension to the international stage brought it a step closer to scrutiny but the former Northamptonshire player said head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Stokes urged him to stick with what he knows.
“Baz and Stokes have really supported what got me here and put me in good stead for Test cricket.
“It gave me a lot of confidence,” added Gay, who revealed that the intensity of England’s training has gone up another notch.
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Highlights of the second day of the Lord’s Test which ended with New Zealand set for 254 in their second innings to win 36-3
“At this level, with more cameras, more people watching, that’s the biggest divider – having confidence in your technique.
“Everyone has a different plan of how they bat. Buzz said as long as you have faith when you cross the white line, however you want to play, just back it up. It’s great for me on debut. I have the full support of the changing room.”
Watch the third day of the first Test between England and New Zealand live Sky Sports Cricket And main event Saturday from 10.15am. Didn’t get the sky? Get Sky Sports or Stream with NOW.
