Eimilo injury leads England sweat for first Pakistan Test

With just 12 days to go for the first Test against Pakistan at Leeds, England are sweating over opening batter Eimilo Gay, who retired hurt with a right shoulder injury while playing for Durham, according to a news report.v

It’s a big headache for the hosts, as Gay has broken into the England XI this summer, replacing opener Zak Crawley for the New Zealand series, and is considered a big long-term option.

However, Gay was forced to retire hurt during a One-Day Cup match against Middlesex at Chester-le-Street. The left-handed batter initially felt discomfort in his right shoulder in the sixth over before hurting it further at the start of the seventh when striking a crisp straight drive off Toby Roland-Jones, according to a report in ESPNCricinfo.

Gay was immediately attended to by a member of Durham’s medical team and was soon escorted off the field on 9 from 17 balls. The report said that a Durham spokesperson confirmed that Gay will take no further part in the match and will undergo a scan over the weekend to establish the extent of the damage.

Gay is the in-form batter, having registered two half-centuries in the 2-1 defeat to New Zealand, and is a key player in the new-look 16-man squad to face Pakistan, starting at Headingley on Aug.19, because of the absence of Jacob Bethell, who has been ruled out of the series with a right knee injury.

Ollie Pope earned a recall nine months after being dropped during the Ashes where he averaged just 20.83 across six innings in Australia before being replaced by Bethell. File / Reuters

It’s a new-look 16-player squad for England following Ben Stokes’ international retirement. With Jordan Cox and Dan Lawrence picked to bat at Nos. 3 and 6 respectively, Gay is a vital cog at the top The England selection committee will be looking out for a cover if Gay’s injury is found to be serious.

According to the report, there are no clear options in the current squad to open alongside Ben Duckett. Ollie Pope is the only spare batter in the squad, while Dan Lawrence’s previous stint in 2024 ended with three Tests as an opener against Sri Lanka when Crawley was ruled out with a broken finger.

The possible options they might continue with will include Gay’s Durham team-mate Ben McKinney and Glamorgan’s Asa Tribe.

Somerset’s James Rew made his debut in the second Test against New Zealand but has opened just once in his career earlier this summer, and could also be considered.

Relishing fresh chance to revive Test career, says Ollie Pope: England batter Pope has admitted his return to the Test squad for the first two games against Pakistan came as a surprise, but at the same time, he is determined to make the most of another opportunity to re-establish himself in the red-ball setup.

Pope earned a recall nine months after being dropped during the Ashes where he averaged just 20.83 across six innings in Australia before being replaced by Bethell. A strong County Championship campaign and a shift in England’s leadership group have now brought him back into the fold.

“I understand the change (in the team at the start of the summer). I understand everything that they’ve done over time. And, I guess, whatever they’ve changed over the last year or so, the main thing is whatever they think the best team is now. The fact that I’m in the frame for that is a massive positive.

“It’s obviously great having their confidence to pick me ... I’m just focusing on making sure my game’s as ready as it can be. And if I do get a go in this series, making sure I’ve smoothed out the technique, and got my head in the right spot,” Pope was quoted as saying by Cricinfo on Friday.

Pope has earned 64 caps and scored 3,732 runs in Test cricket prior to his omission from the set-up. With Jordan Cox slated to bat at number three against Pakistan and Dan Lawrence set to bat at number six, Pope returns as a versatile option capable of batting anywhere in the middle order while offering backup wicketkeeping cover.

With England reshaping their side under reappointed captain Joe Root and new head coach Stephen Fleming, reclaiming the Ashes in 2027 remains a top priority, and Pope is keen to prove his mettle against the arch rivals after struggling with a modest average of 17.62 in eight career Tests against Australia.

“There’s an Ashes next summer. I played a game with a dislocated shoulder here (Lord’s) and I played one game at Edgbaston, and I feel like I’ve still got a lot to prove against Australia.

Agencies