Gay should open for England in South Africa - Cook

England opener Emilio Gay should retain his spot for their winter tour of South Africa, according to former captain Sir Alastair Cook.

Gay made a Test-best 60 from 114 balls to blunt Pakistan's attack which helped England seize control on day one at Edgbaston.

The 26-year-old left-hander's tally of 261 runs, at an average of 26.1, might not look particularly eye-catching.

But in an English summer where ball has dominated bat - Ben Duckett is England's only centurion in six home Tests so far - the Durham left-hander has shown a willingness to grind it out.

Cook, who made almost 12,000 runs as an opener for England, has been impressed with the character the Durham left-hander has shown to make tough runs at the top of the order.

"I think Emilio Gay's played really nicely. I would say he's confident and intense," Cook told Test Match Special.

"He is definitely a run-getter when he gets in. He seems to have that real stubborn and strong will to make it count if he can.

"He has done enough for me to take him to South Africa to continue the progress of a player where the pitches will be slightly easier to bat on and he should open the batting."