Rob Key

The goblin-like features; the constant fidgeting; the pickpocket's stealth; the sshh-you-know-who effervescence

England's one-day cricket carnival has arrived to join a packed summer of sport, with the NatWest Series kicking off tomorrow, as England play New Zealand in the opening floodlit game, the first of three in the series, at Old Trafford

After all the injury traumas that afflicted New Zealand's preparations for the Test series, the roles have been reversed ahead of Thursday's opening fixture in the NatWest Series

After his turbo-charged start to the season, Robert Key is adamant that his can carry his first-class form into the one-day game as well, and is eager to open the batting for England during the forthcoming NatWest Series against New Zealand and West

England warmed-up for the NatWest Series by brushing past Wales by six wickets in the third and final annual match between the sides at Cardiff

England's Test team continues to go from strength to strength, but on today's evidence, the thinking behind the one-day squad remains as muddled as ever

Three seasons have now passed since Robert Key was taken aside by Alec Stewart at the PCA Awards Dinner, and given the Sergeant-Major's pep-talk

On the final day of the latest round of Championship matches, there were wins for Kent, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, in Division One, while Yorkshire Glamorgan and Leicestershire also all recorded victories

If at any time Rob Key felt drained or simply fed up of carting Northamptonshire's attack all over Wantage Road, the motivation to carry on was provided by the tannoy announcer

Robert Key's second hundred of the match guided Kent to an easy nine-wicket win over the New Zealanders at Canterbury, and handed England's selectors a reminder than he remains a genuine contender for a place in the Test side

Robert Key reminded the England selectors of his worth by scoring 114 against the New Zealanders on the second day of the tour match at Canterbury

Sussex 385 and 383 for 7 dec

Jacques Rudolph and Boeta Dippenaar tightened South Africa's control of their match against Kent at Canterbury with some flourishing batting late in the day

Kent 362 and 418 for 3 dec v Nottinghamshire 156 and 29 for 2 at Maidstone Scorecard Kent took complete charge of their match at Mote Park, setting Notts an unlikely victory target of 625 and removing two batsmen by the close

Robert Key has been released from the England squad for the NatWest Series match against South Africa at Edgbaston

England have released Robert Key from their NatWest Series squad so that he can play for Kent in their Frizzell County Championship match against Nottinghamshire at Maidstone starting on Wednesday

Pakistan were given a stiff work-out ahead of Thursday's First Test at Lord's as Kent dominated day one of this Vodafone Challenge clash in Canterbury