Nicky Oppenheimer XI v England, Randjesfontein

'We're all feeling the pressure for our places' - Key

Andrew Miller in Randjesfontein

December 8, 2004

Robert Key hit seven fours and five sixes in his 87 © Getty Images

Robert Key was in a philosophical mood as he faced the press after his matchwinning performance in England's warm-up fixture against a Nicky Oppenheimer XI at Randjesfontein. For all the purity of his strokeplay, as he cracked five sixes and seven fours in an 85-ball 87, he knows he might yet lose his place to Mark Butcher come the start of the Test series.

Butcher was England's ever-present No. 3 in 42 Tests from 2001, until he lost his place to Key last summer, following a freak car accident near The Oval. He then aggravated a thigh strain while picking up a cardboard box at his home in London. It was, as Key admitted, an unfortunate catalogue of misfortune.

"I've said all along that I only got picked because Butch got hit by a car," admitted Key. "He hasn't had much luck in recent times, so if he gets in ahead of me that evens it up a bit. He's got a bit of credit in the bank - he didn't get dropped or anything, he just got injured in a freak way. He's been one of England's best players for several years now, so I'm philosophical about the situation."

Butcher's case for a recall was further dented today, as he fell to Charl Willoughby for just 6 in the closing stages of England's run-chase, but by then he was on a hiding to nothing, with just ten runs needed for victory and the Test-class bowlers, Willoughby and Heath Streak, back in the attack.

Asked whether it would have helped the team cause if he and Marcus Trescothick had got out after reaching their fifties, Key responded: "That was pretty much what we were trying to do. But the boundaries were short and we were just having a slog. It's amazing how well you can connect with the ball when you play without fear."

"It was a bit like a pre-season game," he added. "I don't enjoy them all that much, because I don't like using up all my luck in games that don't matter. But we're all feeling the pressure for our places at the moment, with the likes of [Ian] Bell and [Kevin] Pietersen coming up on our heels. We can't afford to hold back for a minute."

Andrew Miller is assistant editor of Cricinfo

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