Emilio Gay insisted there was no lack of leadership in England’s ranks as they allowed New Zealand to claim the box seat on day two of the second Rothesay Test.
Confusing tactics and poor execution from the bowlers allowed New Zealand to swell their first-innings total to 391, before the hosts slipped to 222 for six in response.
A lack of precision is perhaps unsurprising given England’s rocky road to the Kia Oval, including five changes to a winning team from Lord’s and an unplanned change of captain.
With regular skipper Ben Stokes 275 miles away preparing to line-up for Durham on Friday – an unintended consequence of his curfew-breaking night out in London – Joe Root was left to lead an inexperienced XI including three debutants.
Gay is a novice himself, making just his second international appearance, and Root’s total of 165 Test caps tops the combined total of his 10 team-mates this week.
But the opener refused to lean on excuses as his side laboured to stumps with a 169-run deficit.
“I know there’s a few debuts and myself, I’ve not really played any (Test) cricket, but there’s still leaders in the dressing room,” said Gay.
“There’s Jofra (Archer), Ben Duckett, Rooty, Brooky (Harry Brook); all those guys have played loads of cricket across all formats for England.
“There’s been a lot of outside noise leading up to this Test match but there’s a calmness Joe and Baz (head coach Brendon McCullum) have brought to the dressing room.”
On the constant debates around Stokes, who could find himself back in the squad in a matter of days should England draft him for next week’s third Test in Nottingham, Gay added: “I know Ben fairly well from Durham, but all that stuff is outside noise.
“I’ve got enough worries in my own head thinking about the pitch, the bowlers, the second game of my Test career. I’ve got enough things to worry about.
“Rooty has been so good at letting everyone focus on their own game and trying to come together as a group. Regardless of what’s been said on the outside, things like this bring a good team together.
“There’s a tightness in the group and everyone is using that energy in the right way.”
