CHESTER-LE-STREET, England: An Emilio Gay injury scare left England awaiting scan results, 12 days before their Pakistan Test series.
The 26-year-old hurt his right shoulder during Durham’s Metro Bank One Day Cup match against Middlesex on Friday.
Cricinfo reported Gay felt discomfort in the sixth over before worsening the problem while driving Toby Roland-Jones in the seventh.
Durham’s medical staff assessed him before he retired hurt on nine from 17 balls and took no further part. A Durham spokesperson told Cricinfo that Gay would undergo a scan over the weekend to determine the extent of the injury.
The injury came one day after the England and Wales Cricket Board retained Gay for the first two Tests. The 16-player England squad faces Pakistan at Headingley from August 19.
The second Test begins at Lord’s on August 27. Gay played all three Tests against New Zealand this summer, scoring 139 runs with two half-centuries.
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England has already lost Jacob Bethell for the entire Pakistan series after the batter sustained a right knee injury. The ECB said Jordan Cox would replace Bethell at No. 3, while Dan Lawrence would return at No. 6.
The squad includes no specialist opening reserve beyond Gay and Ben Duckett, increasing uncertainty if Gay becomes unavailable. Ollie Pope is the additional batter, while Lawrence opened during three Tests against Sri Lanka in 2024.
Joe Root will captain England permanently for the first time since 2022 during the three-match series. The Pakistan series concludes with the third Test at Edgbaston from September 9 to 13.
