The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has received a significant boost ahead of the upcoming Test series against Pakistan, as opening batter Emilio Gay has been cleared and named in the 14-player Professional County Club (PCC) Select XI squad for a warm-up fixture at Beckenham.
Gay had raised fitness concerns after sustaining a right shoulder injury while playing for Durham against Middlesex in the One-Day Cup last week. However, medical scans cleared the batter, enabling his inclusion in the invitational squad.
The warm-up encounter, originally scheduled as a four-day game starting Wednesday, was rescheduled by mutual agreement into a three-day fixture beginning Thursday. The PCC Select XI squad also features key Test contenders including off-spinner Shoaib Bashir and fast bowler Matthew Fisher. The team will be coached by England Under-19 head coach Mike Yardy. The three-match Test series between Pakistan and England officially commences on August 19 at Leeds.
