CHESTER-LE-STREET: England opener Emilio Gay suffered an injury scare while batting for Durham ahead of the three-match Test series against Pakistan.
The 26-year-old hurt his right shoulder during Durham’s One-Day Cup fixture against Middlesex on Friday.
Gay first experienced discomfort in the sixth over before aggravating the injury at the start of the seventh while playing a straight drive off Toby Roland-Jones. He was assessed by a medical team, prompting him to leave the field after scoring nine off 17 deliveries.
Durham are yet to provide an update on the extent of the injury.
The setback could further compound England’s problems after top-order batter Jacob Bethell was ruled out of the Pakistan series due to a knee injury.
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Jordan Cox is set to bat at No. 03 in Bethell’s absence, while fast bowler Ollie Robinson has missed England’s Tests against New Zealand because of an injury.
England are also finding the right balance after Ben Stokes’ retirement, with Dan Lawrence expected to fill the all-rounder role. Selector Marcus North has also backed Sam Curran as Stokes’ long-term successor.
Meanwhile, England have recalled Ollie Pope and Dan Lawrance for the first series of the post-Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum era.
England will host Pakistan in a three-match Test series starting on 19 August at Headingley, with Joe Root leading the side in his first assignment since returning as captain.
England squad for first two Tests against Pakistan:
Joe Root (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith and Josh Tongue.
Series schedule:
First Test: August 19-23 – Headingley
Second Test: August 27-31 – Lord’s
Third Test: September 9-13 – Edgbaston
READ: Pakistan players to receive CPL NOCs after Champions Cup: reports
