Emilio Gay Drives Home to Tell Parents of England Test Debut Call-Up

Emilio Gay drove from Durham to Bedford on the day he learned he would open for England, racing to tell his parents about his first international call-up.

The 26-year-old Durham batter got a phone call at 08:00 BST from his county director of cricket and new England national selector Marcus North. North told the left-hander he made the squad for the Test against New Zealand at Lord's on June 4.

"He actually kind of woke me up," Gay told BBC Radio 5 Live.

Gay skipped calling his parents. He jumped in the car en route to the County Championship match against Kent at Beckenham on Friday.

"I didn't really want to ring them, because we've been through so much," Gay said. "I thought I've got to be there to tell them. I drove back to Bedford."

"My brother videoed it and it was a moment I'll never forget. It was a really good day."

Gay's mother is Italian, qualifying him for three T20 internationals for Italy last year. His father's family comes from Grenada. A 2007 trip to the Caribbean, during the West Indies-hosted World Cup, ignited his love for cricket. He got a signed shirt from former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo.

"I fell in love with the game through my dad's family roots in the Caribbean," Gay said. "That's how I really got into it properly at seven years old, and from there it built and built. One day I dreamed of getting called up to play for England and that day came today."

Like Sir Alastair Cook, England's most successful opener, Gay attended Bedford School. He started professionally at Northamptonshire and joined Durham last season. A specialist opener, he bats at three for his county.

Gay is one of two uncapped batters in the squad with Somerset's James Rew. Director of cricket Rob Key confirmed Gay will open at Lord's against the Black Caps, replacing Zak Crawley. Crawley was dropped after England's 4-1 Ashes loss in Australia.

Gay's three centuries early in the County Championship season drew attention. On the pressure of England talk, he said: "I've really enjoyed it. I just see it as such a positive thing."

"People are talking about you in a positive way of potentially playing for England - I don't really see that as negative. People would maybe try to shut it out, but I don't actively look for it. I try to really embrace it and think what an opportunity I've got to put my name forward. I know if I play for England I'm going to get pressure and nerves, and all of that. It's just about how you deal with it."

England has picked hunch selections lately. Spinners Rehan Ahmed and Shoaib Bashir, batter Jacob Bethell and pace bowler Josh Hull debuted in Tests early, with mixed results.

Gay brings 13 hundreds in 72 first-class matches, averaging above 40. He played for England Lions against India A last summer and on tour in Australia over the winter.

Against New Zealand, he will be England's 720th Test player and the first to open on home debut since Jason Roy against Ireland in 2019.

"In three weeks' time, if I play and walk out to bat against New Zealand, I'm going to be nervous," he said. "Getting as much practice around nerves is probably the best thing."

"A few years ago I had a slightly worse relationship with nerves, trying to shut those nerves out for games. Now, I understand they're never going to go away, regardless of how good I am. They will never go away."

"A few weeks ago I played against Lancashire and Jimmy Anderson. I was nervous before that, but those nerves are what I need to be at my absolute best. Everyone has been there before. Whatever I feel on that day, some of the best players to ever play the game have been there and felt those same things. However I feel, I'm human at the end of the day, so I'll try to embrace it and do it with a smile on my face."