‘Probably the most pain I’ve been in’ – Gary Wilson

There is a reason why Test cricket is named as such. In the most literal sense, it is a 'test' – of mind, of character, and patience. On Sunday 13 May, Gary Wilson embodied all these qualities, playing through injury and scoring a 74-ball 33* to help Ireland fight back after Pakistan had reduced them to 7/4 in their maiden Test.

Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Abbas had wreaked havoc on the Ireland batting line-up, significantly moving the ball under extremely favourable conditions. Kevin O'Brien fought valiantly with a 68-ball 40, but his dismissal meant Ireland were reduced to 73/8. It was then that Wilson, who had spent most of that morning in hospital, padded up and walked in.

In normal circumstances, Wilson would have been in a lot earlier. However, a knock on the elbow sustained during the morning warm-up session meant he had to spend most of the first session in the hospital undergoing scans.

If he had hopes of getting some rest on his return to Malahide, they were quashed early on. He found himself walking in at No.9 in just the 23rd over, propped up by painkillers, wearing an arm guard inside-out to protect the elbow.

Wilson grimaced on several occasions when the ball hit his bat. The pain was almost unbearable, but he pushed through the barrier. There was an instance when he had to dive in to make the crease after setting off for a single. He did that too, perhaps further hurting his elbow further.

There was another instance when he reverse-swept Shadab Khan for four, but instead of savouring the shot, Wilson writhed in pain.

He just wouldn’t give up, though. “It’s probably the most pain I’ve been in when batting," he later revealed. "It was pretty sore. I went for an X-ray and there might be a little crack there. It’s unconfirmed.

“The adrenaline sort of kicked in and I didn’t want to miss a chance to bat in the Test match. They just drugged me up and I got out there and got on with it. You’ve got a bit of a responsibility to get out there. At one point, whenever I got back (from hospital), I thought I was literally only going to try and hold an end up.”

Wilson's heroics helped Ireland reach three figures. He forged a crucial 34-run stand for the ninth wicket with Boyd Rankin (17) and then a 23-run partnership for the last wicket with Tim Murtagh.

Ireland were bowled out for 130, with Wilson finishing unbeaten on 33 off 74 deliveries. They did concede a lead of 180 runs, but it could have been much worse.

“It was pretty pleasing to get out there and play some sort of an innings,” said Wilson. "I was able to get through it, got us up to 130 which (was) probably not ideal (for) where we want to be, but I thought the two boys at the end there were unbelievable – to go back out, that showed proper guts.”

Wilson's resolve had a positive effect on his teammates. Pakistan enforced the follow-on, but this time, there was no collapse from the home side. Instead, William Porterfield and Ed Joyce, the Ireland openers, ensured the final session belonged to Ireland, ending the day at 64/0.

“Such a brave effort," said Joyce on Wilson. "I was actually behind the net when he got hit in the back arm this morning and for him to come through and get us up to 130 was a serious effort. He is that kind of a guy you always want in the change room with you.”

Despite all the pain, Wilson is likely to look back on this day fondly.