Bedford’s Emilio Gay has been handed a vote of confidence from the ECB as he has been awarded a 12-month central contract following an opening summer of six test matches against New Zealand and Pakistan.
The Durham opener, who made his test match debut against New Zealand at Lord’s in June, is now eyeing up a winter tour schedule that includes a three-test series in South Africa and the 150th Ashes anniversary test match in Australia in March.
Another full home Ashes series is also just eight months away.
An England central contract means the responsibility for a player’s salary is changed from their county – in this instance, Durham – to the ECB and is far more lucrative.
They are split into three categories; a multi-year deal, which 11 players have received, a 12-month red ball contract which Gay has received, and a development contract, of which there are nine recipients.
And Emilio is one of seven newcomers to the central contract system, signing up for the next 12 months in which the Bedford-born opening batter will face some of the world’s best bowling attacks.
The first test of the South Africa test series begins on Thursday, 17 December in Johannesburg before the Boxing Day test match at SuperSport Park in Centurion and a third test match at Newlands in Cape Town in the new year.
The 150th Anniversary Test match will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, better known as the MCG, from 11, March 2027.
Opinion: A tough summer for batters and the Stokes effect
By Tom Carr, Sport Editor
In a summer that has proven devilishly difficult for batters, Emilio Gay has been credited with being the steadfast opening batter that England need as they transition away from the gung-ho ‘Bazball’ era.
In hitting his first ball in test match cricket for four, before going on to score a maiden half century in his first test match against the Kiwis, Gay has caught the eye with some trademark drives, but it’s fair to say he has also been challenged by some international-standard bowling.
Despite some low scores, and an overall average of 24.63, the statistics are being viewed in the context of England only scoring one test match century all summer; from the bat of opening partner, Ben Duckett against New Zealand.
Two of his six test matches have been at Lord’s, the first of which was rated “unsatisfactory” by the International Cricket Council and also led to an apology from the MCC amidst widespread criticism.
That strip, nine of 20 strips at Lord’s, is also due to be dug up as part of a “pitch action plan” to improve the playing surface at what many cricket fans call ‘The Home of Cricket’.
Scoring a maiden half-century on such a pitch shows Gay has the willpower to battle through difficult periods, and has led the powers that be at the ECB to award the former Northants man with a much-coveted central contract.
And, barring a major drop in form, Gay will also play a part in the next Ashes series in the Summer of 2027 on home turf.
There has also been a unique set of circumstances in which Gay has had to battle against this Summer.
Despite batting in just 11 innings in test match cricket, Gay has already played under two head coaches and two captains, with former coach and captain, Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes departing in favour of Joe Root and interim head coach, Marcus Trescothick.
Come the South Africa series, a third head coach will enter the fray in the form of former New Zealand opener, Stephen Fleming.
Throw in the unwanted media attention of England cricketers in nightclubs – of which Gay had no part in – and the bizarre scenario of Stokes opting to boot Gay out of the opening batting slot in his final test match to replace him with himself, the context of the summer begins to look a touch different.
Not many will have been thrust into the international environment in such a manner.
A final day century back in county cricket, in which Gay hit 141 against Lancashire, is also a timely reminder that Gay belongs on the top stage, and he will now take a welcome break before a Christmas in South Africa, where one would hope the batting conditions are a touch more friendly.
The full list of England’s central contracts can be found here.
