Former Northants opener Emilio Gay handed England call for New Zealand Test
Former Northants opener Emilio Gay has received his first England Test call-up.
The 26-year-old has enjoyed a fantastic start to the summer with Durham, and has been rewarded with selection for the squad to take on New Zealand at Lord's on June 4.
Bedford-born Gay was first picked up by Northants when he was 15, and is a product of the club's 'Talent Pathway Programme'.
The left-hander made his first team debut at Wantage Road in 2019, and then went on to score 2,786 first-class runs for Northants at an average of 35.71.
He scored six centuries and 13 half-centuries as an opener before he departed for Durham, initially on loan, at the back end of the 2024 season.
Gay, who also hit a century and three 50s in List A matches for the County, signed a three-year conract at Chester-le-Street ahead of the 2025 campaign.
Before making the move he was offered a new deal to stay at Wantage Road, but turned it down as he wanted to play division one cricket to enhance his international ambition.
At the time of his move away from Northants, Gay said: "Durham have a huge reputation of their players representing the national team and with my aspirations to play for England, I hope this opportunity will enable me to fulfil my international aspirations."
If selected to play in the first Test, Gay could form an all ex-Northants opening partnership alongside Ben Duckett, who quit the County for Nottinghamshire in 2018.
After leaving Wantage Road, Gay enjoyed a strong first season in the north east, and athough Durham were relegated to division two he did come to the attention of the England selectors who picked him for the Lions tour to Australia in the winter.
This summer has seen Gay shine back in division two, batting at three.
He has played a major part in Durham sitting top of the table, scoring 552 runs at an average of 92, scoring three centuries and one half-century.
Gay joins two other uncapped players in the England squad in Somerset's James Rew and Hampshire's Sonny Baker, while there is a recall for Sussex seamer Ollie Robinson.
Following the Ashes debacle in the winter, England have left out Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope and Will Jacks.
England managing director Rob Key said: "We've selected a squad we believe has a really exciting blend of proven international quality, strong county form and players with huge potential to develop at Test level.
"Emilio, James and Sonny have all earned their opportunities through consistent performances and have impressed us not only with their talent, but with the way they've gone about their cricket in high-pressure situations."
England squad for first Test v New Zealand, June 4 at Lord's: Ben Stokes (Durham); Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire); Gus Atkinson (Surrey); Sonny Baker (Hampshire); Shoaib Bashir (Derbyshire); Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire); Harry Brook (Yorkshire); Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire); Matthew Fisher (Surrey); Emilio Gay (Durham); James Rew (Somerset); Ollie Robinson (Sussex); Joe Root (Yorkshire); Jamie Smith (Surrey); Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire)