Former England captain David Gower has backed Durham opener Emilio Gay to impress on his Test debut at Lord's against New Zealand, praising the selectors for returning to picking in-form county players.
Gay replaces Zak Crawley at the top of the order after scoring three centuries in his first five County Championship matches this season, including one at Lord's against Middlesex. Gower said: 'He has earned it. He's not just a flash in the pan; he's been coming up for two to three years now.'
The 27-year-old's call-up marks a shift from the left-field selections under Rob Key, Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, which had drawn criticism from county chiefs. Gower added: 'The penny has dropped that county cricket is still relevant and that people shouldn't be excluded from the England team for the wrong reasons.'
Gower was less sympathetic towards Crawley, who averages 31 after 64 Tests and failed to pass 50 in 12 innings for Kent this term. 'He should have developed an instinct to make his special things last longer,' Gower said. 'When you average 31 after 64 Test matches, you've let yourself down.'
Looking ahead to the series, Gower warned England not to underestimate New Zealand, saying: 'If New Zealand had played Australia in Australia this winter, they could easily have won. Take them lightly at your absolute peril.'
Gower was speaking at the Lord's Taverners National Table Cricket Finals, an inclusive version of the game for young people with disabilities, of which he is president.
