Emilio Gay has admitted the nerves were impossible to ignore as he notched up 128 on the opening day of the 2026 season against Kent.

The visitors won the toss and put Durham into bat on the opening morning at Chester-le-Street.

But the home side weren’t phased, and posted a respectable total of 335 on an overcast Good Friday.

Gay proved the standout as he claimed his 11th century in First Class cricket.

“I think naturally there were some nerves there going out today”, he told Durham Cricket at the close of play.

“Coming in at three after losing an early wicket, the most important thing was trying to put us back in check and restable the kind of dynamic and the balance of the momentum.”

“It was really pleasing for me to get off to that start and then obviously getting to 100 was nice.”

“I really like batting here, I’ve got a good record here I think, so I’ve enjoyed batting on my time and I’m looking forward to kicking on.”

Gay’s stern hundred came in 111 balls, but the nerves kept ticking on the closer the Durham batter got to the first Championship century of the summer.

He explained: “I got that 99 against Surrey and that hurt me for a while.”

“I know I got 100 against Worcestershire soon after, but it was when I hit the two on 97 and I didn’t get the three where I just thought ‘ah, if I’d have hit that a bit harder’, and I didn’t want it to come back to bite me – but I was really happy to get over the line.”

“My mum and dad were here as well, which is always nice, so it’s a good feeling.”

The emotion of the occasion spilled into the celebration, with Gay attributing the passionate reaction to the struggles he endured over the winter with the England Lions in Australia and the wider context with Durham.

He said: “I got injured over in Australia, and it was a 10-12 week injury where I missed a lot of cricket and a bit of the rehab was a bit gruelling.”

“But the most important reason was because I felt like that 100 was probably my most important in a Durham shirt.”

“Just based on the context of the game and the way the momentum was with them and the scoreline, first game of the season.”

“I think Durham really needed someone to step up, so I just felt that 100 was a really important one for the team and it’s put us in a position hopefully where we can now get some more wickets.”

Gay came to the crease alongside Alex Lees early after the first wicket fell for just eight runs.

“For me, the game plan was to just absorb a little bit of pressure, and the two overseas bowlers there – especially Stuurman – were bowling really well”, he continued.

“It was about putting my ego away and making good decisions, trying to get past my first 30 balls and after that, looking to score.”

“I think the best thing was that that first hour was really important.”

“Me and Leesy tried to put on a partnership, I think we put on a 50/60 partnership, might have been more – but that was the focus.”

Gay’s hundred could hardly have been timed better – being achieved under the nose of the watching England captain.

But the Durham number three admits he isn’t too focused on what could be coming in the future if he keeps up his impressive form.

“I’m not thinking about it really much at all – maybe I should, but there’s so many players out there who have got such talent, I’m not really worried about what they’re doing, it’s just focusing on what I’m doing”, he explained.

“Obviously playing in the Lions in the winter made me feel potentially close to the team, but I’m focused on my own game and if that opportunity does come in the future, my game is in a good place for that, that’s the most important thing – but for now it’s scoring runs for Durham.”