“It takes my mind off watching,” says Simeon Gay, with a paintbrush in hand. “First ball, I’ll pay attention. But after a while, I’m just like doing my own thing.”

Simeon had a unique vantage point of the opening day of the third Test against Pakistan. Sitting on the balcony in the international suite, Simeon watched his brother Emilio while working on an illustrative oil painting of the day’s play at Edgbaston.

“I like being in my own little area. It’s nicer because painting is a very personal thing. Plus my mum would say ‘you should be using that colour’.”

During Emilio’s Test debut at Lord’s in June, Simeon took his painting kit into the crowd, which vexed some supporters. By his second day watching his brother, Simeon had been sorted out with an allocated space to paint, even doing so alongside Jack Russell during the Lord’s Test against Pakistan last month.

Just as his big brother is settling into his international career, so his younger brother Simeon – at 23, three years Emilio’s junior – is settling into his own career. Simeon is a fine art graduate at Central Saint Martins College of Art, the institution immortalised by Pulp’s Common People.

Like building an old-school Test match innings, a portrait cannot be rushed. “It’s brick-by-brick,” Simeon says.

When Emilio plays and misses early in his innings, Simeon promptly returns to his paint brushes. “If I get nervous. Straight to painting. Straight to painting.”

But when big brother is playing well, Simeon is distracted from his painting. When Emilio scythes Razaullah through backward point to move into the 20s, Simeon puts his paintbrushes down and purrs with delight. “What a shot, what a shot – crunched it. Looking good boy.”

Emilio’s third Test half-century, sealed with a cut through point and some shoddy fielding on the boundary rope, is the cue for Simeon to stand up.

“Come on,” he says, punching the air. “So good, beautiful.”

As the Hollies Stand serenades his brother to the tune of Abba’s Fernando, Simeon thinks of the sacrifices of family members who helped to make Emilio’s rise possible.

Nico, Emilio’s grandfather, emigrated from Grenada to Huddersfield. Nico is the source of the boys’ love of cricket. “The things he would have done to be here today,” Simeon says. “He would have been so chuffed.”

Emilio’s parents have very different backgrounds. Patrick, his father, has roots in Grenada; Maria, his mum, is half-Italian, enabling Emilio to previously represent Italy. But the two parents share a fierce work ethic.

“They didn’t grow up rich at all,” Simeon says. “But they came together, and I got very hardworking grandparents.”

He recounts a story his father told him about cycling past Bedford School one day as a boy. “He was like, ‘Wow, you know, that’s how the other half live.’ He said now ‘I’ve got two sons that went there’. For me, that explains everything.”

Simeon was a fine player himself, a batting all-rounder who bowled leg-spin and represented Bedfordshire U-14s. This July, the two brothers lined up together for the Head Master’s XI against the Leavers XI at Bedford School, even sharing a partnership. Simeon, to his great pleasure, outscored England’s opening batsman.

As boys, “Talent wise, I was a lot more naturally gifted,” Simeon said. But Emilio was always far keener to go to the nets at Bedford Cricket Club, a few minutes’ drive from the family house.

“I’d have to be dragged to the nets. He would drag my dad to the nets, so that’s how it changed. Hard work over talent every day – I am a firm believer in that because I’ve seen it.”

Emilio’s zest for batting was such that their father bought a portable light generator which could be clipped to the nets, enabling them to train in the winter after dark. Once, Emilio even dragged Patrick to the nets in the snow.

“I know it sounds wild to say, but I always believed he could be playing for England,” Simeon says. “I’ve never ever seen anyone work as hard as my brother. He is obsessed with cricket and his work rate is ridiculous.

“That mentality that he’s got, I can only apply that to what I want to do. And for me, it’s been art for a long time, it was cricket for a while, but I wasn’t passionate about it.”

Still, Simeon is equally ambitious in his own sphere. His first solo exhibition will be at Old Street Gallery on Sept 24. “The ultimate goal is to have my artwork in a blue-chip gallery and having a studio in London and Rome.”

While Emilio’s work finishes after his innings is over, for Simeon his painting is only half-complete. After painting the ground, Simeon will wait a week or so until the paint is completely dry before adding in the players too – including Emilio.

Simeon had hoped that his painting would mark a historic moment for Emilio. Instead, an inside-edge off Razaullah terminates Emilio’s innings at 60. Emilio’s quest for a maiden Test century, like Simeon’s quest to finish his painting, remains unfinished.

“It’s annoying because you want him to do so well,” Simeon laments after his brother walks off. “That was just so frustrating – nicking off and ricocheting from your bat to the stumps, so annoying.

“It would be amazing painting, and watching my brother get 100. That’s what I really want. It’s still been a very good day. But it’s just that extra bit on top for him to get 100.”