There was a real buzz around the cricket nets last week when Old Bedfordian and England Lions batsman Emilio Gay (11-18) returned to school to give Prep and Upper boys a batting masterclass.
Emilio began with warm‑ups before getting into the thick of it — focused, energetic and eager to coach. The boys were in their element, enjoying the opportunity of having a top-flight professional spend an afternoon offering insight usually reserved for the inner circles of top‑level cricket.
The session rotated around several batting stations, each one focused on a different skill.
Straight Hitting
All about balance, timing and giving the ball the full face of the bat. Emilio spoke about the importance of staying still, trusting your position and enjoying the feeling of hitting straight — something he clearly does extremely well.
Decision-Making
A crash course in reading a bowler. Emilio explained how the best players make decisions early and back themselves. What might have been a basic decision earlier now felt absolutely crucial – leave it, or look to play it?
Leg-Side Scoring
Clips, flicks and little pickups into gaps — the boys loved experimenting. Emilio stepped in with simple adjustments, a tweak to the stance with a reminder to keep the head still. The small changes that make a big difference.
The Short Ball – controlling the pull shot
Emilio demonstrated how to control the shot rather than just throw the bat at it. You could almost see the boys’ confidence grow each time they got it right.
Playing Spin and Rotating the Strike
This was more of a thinking station. How do you keep the scoreboard moving? How do you unsettle a spinner? Emilio explained how clever footwork and soft hands can turn tight overs into scoring opportunities.
Throughout the session, Emilio spent talking to the boys individually, asking questions, giving feedback, sharing stories from the professional game – and you could see how much the boys appreciated it. Emilio also spoke about technique, and about mindset, confidence decision‑making – the elements that shape a batsman.
A huge thank you to Emilio for giving his time so generously. He left the boys inspired, full of new ideas and with a real sense of what it takes to raise their game to the next level.
