Emilio Gay

{{Short description|Italian cricketer (born 2000)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Emilio Gay

| image =

| fullname = Emilio Nico Gay

| country = Italy

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|4|14|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Bedford, Bedfordshire, England

| batting = Left-handed

| bowling = Right-arm medium

| role = Batsman

| international = true

| internationalspan = 2024–present

| club1 = Northamptonshire

| year1 = {{nowrap|2019–2024}}

| clubnumber1 = 19

| club2 = → Durham (on loan)

| year2 = 2024

| club3 =Durham

| year3 = 2025

| columns = 3

| column1 = FC

| matches1 = 55

| runs1 = 3,267

| bat avg1 = 35.51

| 100s/50s1 = 7/15

| top score1 = 261

| deliveries1 = 156

| wickets1 = 2

| bowl avg1 = 47.50

| fivefor1 = 0

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = 1/8

| catches/stumpings1 = 58/–

| column2 = LA

| matches2 = 30

| runs2 = 958

| bat avg2 = 38.32

| 100s/50s2 = 1/7

| top score2 = 131

| deliveries2 = 42

| wickets2 = 1

| bowl avg2 = 44.00

| fivefor2 = 0

| tenfor2 = 0

| best bowling2 = 1/25

| catches/stumpings2 = 20/–

| column3 = T20

| matches3 = 13

| runs3 = 290

| bat avg3 = 24.16

| 100s/50s3 = 0/1

| top score3 = 53

| deliveries3 = 6

| wickets3 = 0

| bowl avg3 = –

| fivefor3 = –

| tenfor3 = –

| best bowling3 = –

| catches/stumpings3 = 3/–

| date = 21 April 2025

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/1148593.html ESPNcricinfo

}}

Emilio Nico Gay (born 14 April 2000) is an English-Italian cricketer who plays for Durham, having previously been with Northamptonshire and the Italy national team.{{cite web |title=Emilio Gay |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/1148593.html |website=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=23 September 2019

}} Of Afro-Caribbean ancestry, his father's family came from Grenada, whilst his mother is English and Italian.{{cite web |last=Blackmore |first=Jeremy |date=14 May 2024 |title=Bravo to Emilio Gay, inspiring the next generation |url=https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/4011051/bravo-to-emilio-gay-inspiring-the-next-generation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514195803/https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/4011051/bravo-to-emilio-gay-inspiring-the-next-generation |archive-date=14 May 2024 |website=ECB |location=London |access-date=2 August 2024}} He was born in Bedford, England,{{cite web |author= |date=18 July 2019 |title=Young Gun: Strong work ethic reaps the rewards for ambitious Emilio Gay |url=https://www.thecricketpaper.com/features/featured/6482/a-strong-work-ethic-reaps-the-rewards-for-ambitious-gay/ |website=The Cricket Paper |location=London |access-date=2 August 2024}} and educated at Bedford School.{{cite web |last=Krarup |first=Ed |date=11 December 2020 |url=https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/news/emilio_gay_absolutely_made_for_the_longer_format.html |title=Emilio Gay: Absolutely made for the longer format |website=The Cricketer |location=London |access-date=2 August 2024}}{{cite web |last=Dean |first=Geoffrey |date=13 September 2022 |title=Emilio Gay in Lions contention after innings of his life |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/cricket/article/emilio-gay-in-lions-contention-after-innings-of-his-life-fzkvrl2c3 |url-access=subscription |website=The Times |location=London |access-date=2 August 2024}}

Gay became involved with Northamptonshire's academy programme at under-15 level, and was named their Player of the Year in 2018.{{cite web |author= |date= |title=Emilio Gay Signs First Professional Contract |url=https://nccc.co.uk/news/emilio-gay-signs-first-professional-contract/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201125210/https://nccc.co.uk/news/emilio-gay-signs-first-professional-contract/ |archive-date=1 December 2023 |website=Northamptonshire County Cricket Club |access-date=3 August 2024}} He was awarded his first professional contract with the club in 2019,{{cite web |author= |date=17 July 2019 |title=Cricketing Success as OB Turns Professional |url=https://www.bedfordschool.org.uk/cricketing-success-as-ob-turns-professional/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926075021/https://www.bedfordschool.org.uk/cricketing-success-as-ob-turns-professional/ |archive-date=26 September 2020 |website=Bedford School |access-date=3 August 2024}} making his first-class debut on 23 September against Gloucestershire in that year's County Championship{{cite web |title=Specsavers County Championship Division Two at Bristol, Sep 23-26 2019 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8204/game/1167035/gloucestershire-vs-northamptonshire-specsavers-county-championship-division-two-2019 |website=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=23 September 2019}} (due to bad weather during the match, he did not play his first innings until the following season). In January 2021, he signed a new two-year deal with Northamptonshire.{{cite web |last=Casey |first=Jeremy |date=12 January 2021 |title=Batsman Gay delighted as he signs new contract at Northants |url=https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/batsman-gay-delighted-as-he-signs-new-contract-at-northants-3093294 |website=Northamptonshire Telegraph |location=Northampton |access-date=3 August 2024}} He recorded his maiden first-class century in the 2021 County Championship, when he scored 101 against Kent at Canterbury on 3 June.{{cite web |author= |date=3 June 2021 |title=Emilio Gay makes hay as maiden ton puts Northamptonshire in box seat |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/county-championship-2021-1244186/kent-vs-northamptonshire-group-3-1244284/match-report-1 |website=ESPNcricinfo |agency=ECB Reporters' Network |access-date=3 June 2021}} He made his Twenty20 debut on 18 July 2021, for Northamptonshire in the 2021 T20 Blast.{{cite web |title=North Group, Birmingham, Jul 18 2021, Vitality Blast |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1250357.html |website=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=18 July 2021}} He made his List A debut on 25 July 2021, for Northamptonshire in the 2021 Royal London One-Day Cup.{{cite web |title=Group 1, Northampton, Jul 25 2021, Royal London One-Day Cup |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1250168.html |website=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=25 July 2021}} He made his maiden first-class double century on 13 April 2024, during a County Championship match against Middlesex.{{cite web |last=Carr |first=Tom |date=15 April 2024 |title=Bedford’s Emilio Gay scores career best with maiden double ton against Middlesex |url=https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/bedfords-emilio-gay-scores-career-best-with-maiden-double-ton-against-middlesex/ |website=Bedford Independent |access-date=1 August 2024}}{{cite web |author= |date=13 April 2024 |title=County Championship: Emilio Gay makes 261 for Northants against Middlesex |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/68803307 |website=BBC Sport |agency=ECB Reporters' Network |location=London |access-date=1 August 2024}} Finishing with 261 from 401 balls, his score was the highest recorded by a Northamptonshire batsman in a Championship game between the two sides.{{cite web |author= |date=13 April 2024 |title=Gay hits 261, Sales maiden hundred in Northants run-fest |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/county-championship-division-two-2024-1410192/northamptonshire-vs-middlesex-8th-match-1410270/match-report-2 |website=ESPNcricinfo |agency=ECB Reporters' Network |access-date=4 August 2024}}

In 2024, Gay turned down the offer of a contact extension at Northamptonshire, with Durham and Warwickshire reported to be amongst the clubs interested in signing him.{{cite web |author= |date=1 August 2024 |title=Emilio Gay to depart Northants, set for Durham move |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/emilio-gay-depart-northants-set-for-durham-1445649 |website=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=2 August 2024}}{{cite web |last=Coyne |first=James |date=1 August 2024 |title=Division One clubs circle as Emilio Gay announces Northamptonshire departure |url=https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/county-cricket-premium/division_one_clubs_circle_emilio_gay_northamptonshire_departure_.html |url-access=subscription |website=The Cricketer |location=London |access-date=2 August 2024}} He was ruled out of the county's remaining games in the season's One-Day Cup, but not the County Championship.{{cite web |last=Casey |first=Jeremy |date=1 August 2024 |title=Star batter Emilio Gay to leave Northants at end of season |url=https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/other-sport/breaking-star-batter-emilio-gay-to-leave-northants-at-end-of-season-4725298 |website=Northampton Chronicle & Echo |access-date=8 August 2024}} On 5 August, it was confirmed that he had agreed a three-year deal with Durham,{{cite web |author= |date=5 August 2024 |title=Emilio Gay pens three-year Durham deal |url=https://www.durhamcricket.co.uk/news-and-media/emilio-gay-pens-three-year-durham-deal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806145942/https://www.durhamcricket.co.uk/news-and-media/emilio-gay-pens-three-year-durham-deal/ |archive-date=6 August 2024 |website=Durham County Cricket Club |location=Chester-le-Street |access-date=8 August 2024}}{{cite web |last=Howson |first=Nick |date=5 August 2024 |title=England on the agenda as Emilio Gay takes his next step |url=https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/county-cricket-premium/england_agenda_emilio_gay_takes_next_step.html |url-access=subscription |website=The Cricketer |location=London |access-date=8 August 2024}} to whom he was loaned for the final two rounds of the Championship.{{cite web |author= |date=16 September 2024 |title=Emilio Gay joins Durham on loan for remainder of season |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/emilio-gay-joins-durham-on-loan-for-remainder-of-season-1451230 |website=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=17 September 2024}}