Rob Key

Born in East Dulwich, London, to parents Trevor and Lynn,{{cite book|title= The Cricketers' Who's Who|editor-last= Marshall|editor-first= Chris |year= 2008|publisher= Green Umbrella Publishing|isbn= 978-1-906229-63-4|pages= [https://archive.org/details/cricketerswhoswh0000unse/page/350 350]|url= https://archive.org/details/cricketerswhoswh0000unse/page/350}} Key was raised in a particularly sporting family: his mother played for Kent's ladies cricket side, his father played club cricket in Derby and his sister Elizabeth played for her junior school side, where she once took a hat-trick.{{Cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/156015.html|title=Robert Key – Cricketer of the Year essay|last=Chevallier|first=Hugh|publisher=Wisden Cricketers' Almanack|year=2005|access-date=2008-06-21}} Key himself was a keen all-round sportsman; he also played tennis for Kent.

He attended Worsley Bridge Primary School where the school won both the Bromley area and Kent cricket Cups. His performances led to his inclusion in the county under-elevens, before Alan Ealham, coach of Kent County Cricket Club's youth sides, became his mentor. Later he attended Colfe's School in Lee, London, and Langley Park School for Boys in Beckenham, where he passed ten GCSEs.

Key has often been criticized for his weight, and at one stage early in his career weighed 16 stone before Alec Stewart told him to "buck his ideas up".{{Cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/15876.html|title=Players and Officials - Robert Key|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2008-06-21}} Key himself said of the matter: "I'll never be the most athletic-looking bloke, but I'm a hell of a lot fitter than I was at 19 or 20."{{Cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/139227.html|title=The case for Key|last=Miller|first=Andrew|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2008-06-21}}

Key is married to Fleur, with whom he has two children.

Key played his first matches for Kent's second eleven in 1995, at the age of sixteen. He remained a regular in the second team throughout the 1996 season and first half of the 1997 season, by which time he had hit his first two centuries for a Kent representative side; an unbeaten 146 against Essex's second team, and an unbeaten 139 against Glamorgan's seconds.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/cgi-bin/player_oracle_reveals_results2.cgi?playernumber=7035&playername=key&playernameexact=&displayplayername=RWT%20Key&team=&teamexact=&opponent=&opponentexact=&captain=&wicketkeeper=&homeawaytype=All&matchtype=All&resulttype=All&startseason=1996&endseason=1997&searchtype=InningsList&startscore=&endscore=&startwicket=&endwicket=&branding=cricketarchive|title=Player Oracle Reveals Results – RWT Key – 1996 to 1997|author=CricketArchive|access-date=2008-07-07}}

Following on from those performances, Key joined the England Under-17 squad for the International Youth Tournament, which was being held in Bermuda. Key's growing reputation as a batsman was greatly enhanced by his performances in this tournament, where he finished with the second highest batting average of anyone at the tournament, scoring 184 runs at an average of 48.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/BMDA/International_Youth_Tournament_1997/Batting_by_Average.html|title=Batting and Fielding in International Youth Tournament 1997 (Ordered by Average)|author=CricketArchive|access-date=2008-07-07}} Key's performances helped England win the tournament by a single point from Ireland's Under-17s.

Key returned to England for two matches with Kent's second team, before joining up with England's Under-19s for a youth Test series against Zimbabwe's under-19s. In the three Test series, Key made two half-centuries, earning himself a place in the squad for the 1998 Under-19 Cricket World Cup in South Africa. Batting at the top of the order throughout, Key scored a total of 206 runs as England won the tournament, with his best performance coming in the defeat to India, where Key scored 57.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/65/65284.html|title=England Under-19's v India Under-19's in 1997/98|author=CricketArchive|access-date=2008-07-07}}

Following a first-class debut against Middlesex at the beginning of the 1998 season, in which Key scored 15, he proceeded to play a near-complete season. He scored his first first-class century against Durham, scoring 101 in an innings victory. He added a second century (115) against Nottinghamshire, before rejoining the England under-19 squad for the series against Pakistan under-19s. He struggled in the one-day series, scoring just 36 runs in three matches, but finished as the top run-scorer in the youth Tests; with 377 at an average of 62.83.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/ENG/Pakistan_Under-19s_in_England_1998/ut_England_Under-19s_Batting.html|title=Under-19 Test Batting and Fielding for England Under-19s in Pakistan Under-19s in England 1998|author=CricketArchive|access-date=2008-07-07}}

Image:Rob Key.JPG

The 1999 season began for Key with a call up to England A's tour of Zimbabwe through January and February. He struggled for runs throughout his five matches on the tour, failing to pass 26 in any innings.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/ZIM/England_A_in_Zimbabwe_1998-99/f_England_A_Batting.html|title=First-class Batting and Fielding for England A in England A in Zimbabwe 1998/99|author=CricketArchive|access-date=2008-07-08}}{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/ZIM/England_A_in_Zimbabwe_1998-99/a_England_A_Batting.html|title=List A Batting and Fielding for England A in England A in Zimbabwe 1998/99|last=CricketArchive|access-date=2008-07-08}} In all, Key managed one century in the calendar year, 125 against Somerset, and finished the year with 1,309 runs in all competitions. The 2000 season proved even more disappointing, with just 700 runs at an average of less than 20.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/cgi-bin/player_oracle_reveals_results2.cgi?playernumber=7035&playername=key&playernameexact=&displayplayername=RWT%20Key&team=&teamexact=&opponent=&opponentexact=&captain=&wicketkeeper=&homeawaytype=All&matchtype=All&resulttype=All&startseason=2000&endseason=2000&searchtype=InningsList&startscore=&endscore=&startwicket=&endwicket=&branding=cricketarchive|title=Player Oracle Reveals Results – RWT Key – 2000|author=CricketArchive|access-date=2008-07-08}}

The 2001 English cricket season saw Key's form improve, with him scoring four first-class centuries; including one against the touring Pakistanis.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/72/72105.html|title=Kent v Pakistanis in 2001|author=CricketArchive|access-date=2008-07-08}} His highest score of the season and career to date would come in the final game—he scored 132 in a rain-affected match against Lancashire. His scoring throughout the season persuaded the national selectors to include him in the National Academy, which went on a winter tour of Australia, where he showed his ability with an innings of 177 against the side's Australian counterparts.

He continued his good form into 2002, where his run-scoring earned him an invitation to play for the Marylebone Cricket Club against the Sri Lankans. He scored 77 in a drawn match, and would later that season make his Test match debut against India. However, following his Test debut, he only passed 50 on one further occasion that year. He would maintain his place in the Test side against Zimbabwe the following year, despite only scoring one innings of note—129 against the Cambridge students. However, after being dropped from the side, Key's form seemed to improve: he scored 140 against Nottinghamshire to set up a Kent victory,{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/77/77307.html|title=Kent v Nottinghamshire in 2003|author=CricketArchive|access-date=2008-07-08}} and consistently scored around 40 runs per innings for the remainder of the season.

The 2004 English cricket season saw Key hit top form for the first time, scoring a total of 2,486 runs in all competitions. This total included a "majestic" unbeaten 118 in the opening game of the season against Gloucestershire, during which Key did not offer a single chance throughout.{{cite book|title=Kent County Cricket Club Annual|publisher=Kent County Cricket Club|pages=128|isbn=0-9527926-1-3|year=2005}} He reached the thousand run milestone for the season on 2 June, the earliest date the milestone had been reached since 1978, and went on a run that included five centuries in seven innings.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/cgi-bin/player_oracle_reveals_results2.cgi?playernumber=7035&playername=key&playernameexact=&displayplayername=RWT%20Key&team=&teamexact=&opponent=&opponentexact=&captain=&wicketkeeper=&homeawaytype=All&matchtype=FirstClass&resulttype=All&startseason=2004&endseason=2004&searchtype=InningsList&startscore=&endscore=&startwicket=&endwicket=&branding=cricketarchive|title=Player Oracle Results – RWT Key, 2004, first-class|author=CricketArchive|access-date=2008-07-08}} (Run consisted of: 114 and 117* against New Zealand, 16 and 173 against Northamptonshire, 86 and 199 against Surrey, 180 against Lancashire.) He was then recalled to the England squad for the series against the West Indies, and Key played two key innings: 221 at Lord's, and his second innings 93 not out to win the third Test for England. Following the series Key returned to the domestic scene, and finished the season with two further tons; 131 against both Northamptonshire and Middlesex.

Following the winter international series in South Africa, Key returned to domestic action with Kent. While not having as successful a season as in the previous year, he still scored over 1,500 runs.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/cgi-bin/player_oracle_reveals_results2.cgi?playernumber=7035&playername=key&playernameexact=&displayplayername=RWT%20Key&team=&teamexact=&opponent=&opponentexact=&captain=&wicketkeeper=&homeawaytype=All&matchtype=FirstClass&resulttype=All&startseason=2005&endseason=2005&searchtype=InningsList&startscore=&endscore=&startwicket=&endwicket=&branding=cricketarchive|title=Player Oracle – RWT Key – 2005|author=CricketArchive|access-date=2008-07-08}} This included two centuries in the same match against Surrey, during the second of which he shared a county third-wicket record partnership of 323 with Martin van Jaarsveld. At the end of the season, Key was named the new county captain following the resignation of David Fulton, a role he took on in order to help his chances of regaining a place in the England side.{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/story/222741.html|title=Key named as Kent's new captain|agency=Agence France-Presse|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2008-07-08}}

His first season as captain saw his form slide, as Kent's chairman of cricket Graham Johnson related at the end of the season: "His commitment to the team has probably impacted on his own form".{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/story/260378.html|title=Key continues as Kent captain|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2008-07-08}} Nonetheless, he was given the captaincy of the England A team in their fixture against Pakistan, and led Kent to fifth place in the top tier of the County Championship. The following season saw Key lead Kent to silverware, whilst returning to some of his best form. He struck a total of eight centuries, and amassed a total of 2,267 runs in all competitions, whilst also leading Kent to the finals day of the 2007 Twenty20 Cup, in which Kent defeated Sussex and Gloucestershire to claim the trophy.{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/story/305547.html|title=Kent take Twenty20 in thrilling final|last=McGlashan|first=Andrew|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2008-07-08}} However, Key was later found guilty of "serious dissent" following his controversial dismissal in the final.{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/story/309441.html|title=Key found guilty of serious dissent|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2008-07-08}}

He continued his run-scoring into 2008, where he scored an unbeaten 178 against the touring New Zealanders to "lift himself firmly into the Test reckoning".{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/story/347852.html|title=Key gives Kiwis a dose of déjà vu|last=Miller|first=Andrew|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2008-07-08}} Following Michael Vaughan's resignation as England captain, Key was touted by the some in the media as a potential candidate for the job.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tms/2008/08/lack_of_runs_costs_emotional_v.shtml|title=Lack of runs costs emotional Vaughan|last=Agnew|first=Jonathan|author-link=Jonathan Agnew|date=3 August 2008|publisher=Test Match Special Blog on BBC Sport|access-date=2008-09-27}} However, the season ended badly for Key, as under his captaincy Kent were relegated to the second tier of the County Championship for the first time,{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/countycricket2008/content/current/story/371416.html|title=Thorp all but secures Durham maiden title|last=Miller|first=Andrew|date=27 September 2008|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2008-09-27}} with Key also being fined £1,250 for comments he made over an ECB pitch panel decision in August.{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/countycricket2008/content/current/story/371354.html|title=Key fined for 'Muppet' outburst|date=26 September 2008|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2008-09-27}}

Key took his first wicket in first-class cricket on the final day of Kent's draw with Northamptonshire at the start of the 2009 season.{{cite web|url=http://content.cricinfo.com/countycricket2009/content/current/story/401295.html|title=No Major interest in tedious draw|last=Pennell|first=Mark|date=24 April 2009|access-date=24 April 2009}} He went on to score 1,209 runs that season, with four centuries including a career-best 270*, at 50.37 runs per innings. It was the sixth time he had passed one thousand runs in a season.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/7/7035/f_Batting_by_Season.html First-class Batting and Fielding in Each Season by Robert Key] from CricketArchive. He came close to beating this score the following season when, on 17 May 2010, he scored 261 against Durham. He had, until that match, struggled with the bat—averaging only 14.30 in the County Championship.{{cite web|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/countycricket2010/content/current/story/460000.html|title=Key props up Kent with mammoth 261|date=18 May 2010|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=18 May 2010}}

He announced his retirement from the game on 18 April 2016, citing his desire to not "hinder younger players [coming through]" and focus on coaching and his role with Sky Sports as a television pundit.

{{See also|Indian cricket team in England in 2002}}

Key made his Test match debut in the second Test against India in 2002, as a replacement for Marcus Trescothick, who had broken his thumb.{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/story/116964.html|title=Trescothick injury poses selection dilemma|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2008-06-24}} Chairman of selectors David Graveney said Key was selected because of his "outstanding form for Kent after attending the National Academy" over the winter.{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/111810.html|title=England select Key to unlock Test potential|last=Lamb|first=Stephen|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2008-08-04}} Opening the batting with Michael Vaughan, Key made 17 runs in his only innings before being bowled by Ashish Nehra.{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/engine/match/63998.html|title=2nd Test: England v India at Trent Bridge, Aug 8-12, 2002|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2008-06-24}} Retained in the side for the third Test, Key managed scores of 30 and 34 as England succumbed to an innings defeat.{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/engine/match/63999.html|title=3rd Test: England v India at Headingley, Aug 22-26, 2002|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2008-06-24}} However, his performance was marred by him dropping three catches.{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/154968.html|title=Indians in England, 2002|last=Bhattacharya|first=Rahul|publisher=Wisden Cricketers' Almanack|access-date=2008-06-24|quote=...England, who proceeded to drop four catches in an hour on the third morning. Robert Key, the chunky opener playing his second Test, dropped two more on top of one the previous evening...}} Key was dropped from the fourth and final Test, with Trescothick replacing him having been rushed back from injury.{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/154972.html|title=4th Test: England v India, The Oval, match report|last=Smyth|first=Rob|publisher=Wisden Cricketers' Almanack|access-date=2008-06-24}}

{{See also|English cricket team in Australia in 2002–03}}

After success in domestic cricket and promise shown in his Test appearances previously, Key was selected as part of the squad to play Australia. Despite playing well in a limited overs match against an ACB Chairman's XI; hitting 68,{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/engine/match/122293.html|title=ACB Chairman's XI v England XI at Perth (Lilac Hill), Oct 22, 2002|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2008-06-25}} he was not selected to play in the first Test, instead acting as twelfth man. He ended up fielding to a greater extent than he would have imagined, after Simon Jones ruptured knee ligaments while fielding, and took no further part in the match.

Brought back into the side for the second Test for the injured John Crawley,{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/australia/content/story/121286.html|title=Vaughan gives England backbone at Adelaide|last=Killeen|first=Claire|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2008-08-04}} Key made a solitary run in the first innings, batting at number three, before being caught off the bowling of Shane Warne just after the lunch break. Relegated to number five in the second innings, with Mark Butcher and Nasser Hussain batting ahead of him, he again made just one before being caught off Andy Bichel.{{Cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/engine/match/64010.html|title=2nd Test: Australia v England at Adelaide, Nov 21-24, 2002|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2008-06-25}}

Key fared better in the third match, played at the WACA Ground in Perth. On a pitch with "exceptional bounce and pace",{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/155892.html|title=3rd Test: Australia v England, Perth, match report|last=Marks|first=Vic|author-link=Vic Marks|publisher=Wisden Cricketers' Almanack|access-date=2008-06-25}} Key was the only English batsman to keep his wicket intact for a prolonged period, batting passively for 47, the highest score of the innings. He then caught Brett Lee at third man in Australia's only innings, before offering Hussain "stout support" in making 23 second time around.{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/australia/content/story/112704.html|title=Australia retain the Ashes with a convincing win at Perth|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2008-06-25}} England lost the Test match by an innings and 48 runs, a result that ensured that Australia retained the Ashes.

Following a break for the first part of the VB Series of One Day Internationals, England moved to Melbourne for the fourth Test. Unfortunately for Key, he fell for a duck in the first innings, trapped leg before wicket (lbw) second ball by fast bowler Brett Lee. With England following on, Key made a maiden half-century to ensure Australia had to bat again. He eventually fell just after the new ball was taken, caught at second slip for 52.{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/engine/match/64012.html|title=4th Test: Australia v England at Melbourne, Dec 26-30, 2002|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2008-06-27}}{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/113431.html|title=Australia fall behind for the first time|agency=Australian Associated Press|access-date=2008-06-27}}

The final Test, played at the Sydney Cricket Ground, saw England attempting to avoid a series whitewash. Key scored three runs in England's first innings, before falling lbw to an innocuous half-volley from Steve Waugh, playing in his last Ashes Test.{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/155894.html|title=5th Test: Australia v England, Sydney, match report|last=Ryan|first=Christian|publisher=Wisden Cricketers' Almanack|access-date=2008-06-27}} He scored 14 in his final innings of the tour, before being caught at midwicket, however England had nearly 350 runs on the board by that stage and were on track to complete a consolatory victory. The 2004 edition of the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack recorded that Key had "justified his selection ahead of an older player, like Mark Ramprakash, but did not cement his place".{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/155889.html|title=2004 - England in Australia|last=Berry|first=Scyld|publisher=Wisden Cricketers' Almanack|access-date=2008-06-27}}

{{See also|Zimbabwean cricket team in England in 2003}}

Despite a low-scoring start to the 2003 English cricket season, in which he passed 40 only once in his first seven innings of the season,{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/cgi-bin/player_oracle_reveals_results2.cgi?playernumber=7035&playername=key&playernameexact=&displayplayername=RWT%20Key&team=&teamexact=&opponent=&opponentexact=&captain=&wicketkeeper=&homeawaytype=All&matchtype=FirstClass&resulttype=All&startseason=2003&endseason=2003&searchtype=InningsList&startscore=&endscore=&startwicket=&endwicket=&branding=cricketarchive|title=Player Oracle Reveals Results – RWT Key – 2003 (first-class)|author=CricketArchive|access-date=2008-06-27}} he kept his place in the Test side for the visit of the touring Zimbabweans. Batting at number five in both Tests, Key failed to make much of an impact, scoring 18 runs in the first match and four in the second. He had reason to feel aggrieved at his first Test dismissal—umpire Steve Bucknor gave him out caught behind, despite Key not hitting the ball.{{Cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/131513.html|title=England take charge|last=Lynch|first=Steven|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2008-06-27|quote=Key looked aggrieved, and the all-seeing TV replay suggested that the noise Steve Bucknor heard was bat hitting pad on the way through.}}

His inclusion in the One Day International (ODI) squad for the following NatWest Series against Zimbabwe and South Africa owed more to the lack of available players than his own form; he had only passed 40 on one occasion going into the series.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/cgi-bin/player_oracle_reveals_results2.cgi?playernumber=7035&playername=key&playernameexact=&displayplayername=RWT%20Key&team=&teamexact=&opponent=&opponentexact=&captain=&wicketkeeper=&homeawaytype=All&matchtype=ListA&resulttype=All&startseason=2003&endseason=2003&searchtype=InningsList&startscore=&endscore=&startwicket=&endwicket=&branding=cricketarchive|title=Player Oracle Reveals Results – RWT Key – 2003 (List A)|author=CricketArchive|access-date=2008-06-27}} Key made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe in the opening match of the tournament; he scored 11 before falling to the left-arm spin of Ray Price. Key only played one more match in the series; against South Africa he fell for a golden duck taking a "wild swing" at the first ball he received from Makhaya Ntini.{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/129982.html|title=Hundreds from Solanki and Trescothick sink South Africa|access-date=2008-06-27|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|last=Williamson|first=Martin}} Following England's qualification into the final of the tournament, Key was released from the squad "to have some match-practice in the longer form of the game ahead of the Test series" against South Africa.{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/story/128663.html|title=England release Key|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2008-06-27}} However, Key did not make an appearance in the series.

{{See also|West Indian cricket team in England in 2004}}

Key returned to the Test match side after an excellent start to the 2004 season. He reached 1,000 runs for the season by 2 June, the earliest date the milestone had been reached for 16 years, and had a run of five centuries in seven innings. However, his limited-overs form was not as good—he passed fifty only once all season.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/cgi-bin/player_oracle_reveals_results2.cgi?playernumber=7035&playername=key&playernameexact=&displayplayername=RWT%20Key&team=&teamexact=&opponent=&opponentexact=&captain=&wicketkeeper=&homeawaytype=All&matchtype=ListA&resulttype=All&startseason=2004&endseason=2004&searchtype=InningsList&startscore=&endscore=&startwicket=&endwicket=&branding=cricketarchive|title=Player Oracle Reveals Results – RWT Key – 2004 (List A)|author=CricketArchive|access-date=2008-06-28}} Despite this, he was called into the squad for the NatWest Series against the West Indies and New Zealand.

Key's series began with the fifth match of the tournament; against the West Indies at Headingley. With England chasing 160 to win, Key came in at 55 for one, but scored just six before being bowled by Dwayne Bravo. His only other appearance came against New Zealand towards the end of the group stage—Key scored 18 and was playing well before being caught behind.

His place in the Test side was ensured after Mark Butcher pulled out, having been hit from behind in his car and sustaining a whiplash injury.{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/232523.html|title=England v West Indies, first Test, match report|last=Lynch|first=Steven|publisher=Wisden Cricketers' Almanack|year=2005|access-date=2008-06-28}} Key took the opportunity, moving toward a maiden Test century with what Wisden described as "powerful driving and pulling". He was dropped twice—Chris Gayle parried an opportunity with Key on 16, while Devon Smith failed to dismiss him when on 58.{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/138107.html|title=Key and Strauss in perfect harmony|last=Miller|first=Andrew|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2008-06-28}} Key maintained his concentration throughout, even after meeting the Queen in a presentation during the tea interval. He brought up his century with a boundary off the bowling of Fidel Edwards, and by the end of the first day had reached 167 not out. He continued positively on the second day, and brought up his maiden double century with four through square leg off Pedro Collins. He was eventually dismissed when he "slashed a wide ball to Brian Lara at backward point", having made 221.{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/138135.html|title=England stay in command despite collapse|last=Auld|first=Freddie|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2008-06-28}} In the second innings, he was run out by his captain Michael Vaughan, who went on to score his second century of the match.

The second Test saw Key struggling in the corridor of uncertainty, a characteristic highlighted by Collins, who beat the bat on several occasions before finding the edge to dismiss him.{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/138437.html|title=Trescothick sets the pace for England|last=Miller|first=Andrew|date=29 July 2004|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2008-06-30}} His second innings lasted just seven balls before Key "chipped a simple catch to mid-on", having scored just four.{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/138558.html|title=England build the foundations|last=Brickhill|first=Liam|date=31 July 2004|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2008-06-30}}

Key's most valuable innings, according to Wisden, came in the third Test. Despite only scoring six runs in the first innings, Key came to the crease for his second innings with England requiring another 216 runs to take a 3–0 lead in the series. Initially batting with Michael Vaughan, and then with Andrew Flintoff, Key scored an unbeaten 93 to guide England to their target, which was a record fourth innings total to win an Old Trafford Test.{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/232644.html|title=England v West Indies, third Test, match report|last=Coupar|first=Paul|publisher=Wisden Cricketers' Almanack|access-date=2008-06-30}} His series came to an end when he scored ten runs, in England's ten-wicket victory in the final Test.

Key's performances in the series and his domestic form earned him recognition—he was named as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year in the 2005 edition.

Following on from his performances during the series against the West Indies, Key was taken on England's tour of South Africa over the English close-season. However, with Mark Butcher returning to the side following injury, Key lost his place. This was despite him scoring 87 in a warm-up game against a Nicky Oppenheimer XI, a match in which Butcher had scored just six.{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/match/135751.html|title=England v Nicky Oppenheimer XI, December 8, 2004|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2008-06-30}} Returning to the side for the third Test after Butcher had sustained a wrist injury, Key made a duck in the first innings, before "defending resolutely" in accumulating 41 before being stumped charging Nicky Boje.{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/145032.html|title=Outclassed and indisciplined England face defeat|last=Williamson|first=Martin|date=5 January 2005|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2008-06-30}}

The fourth Test, played at the Wanderers, saw Key hit 83, in a partnership of 182 with Andrew Strauss that Wisden described as including "hard-hitting support from Key".{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/237254.html|title=Wisden, 2005 – South Africa v England, fourth Test report|last=Engel|first=Matthew|author-link=Matthew Engel|work=Wisden Cricketers' Almanack|access-date=2008-07-04}} He added a further eighteen to his match tally in the second innings, a contribution which helped England to an eventual victory. Key returned single figure scores of one and nine in his two innings in the final Test, being dismissed by Shaun Pollock on both occasions in a rain-affected draw.{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/engine/match/64120.html|title=5th Test: South Africa v England at Centurion, Jan 21-25, 2005|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2008-07-07}}

Key briefly returned to international cricket for the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 competition, playing his only Twenty20 International match against the Netherlands during the tournament as a replacement for the injured Kevin Pietersen. He scored 10 not out from eight balls in a match where the Netherlands successfully chased their target from the final ball.{{cite web|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/wt202009/content/story/407598.html|title=de Grooth leads Netherlands to famous win|last=McGlashan|first=Andrew|date=5 June 2009|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=18 May 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/wt202009/engine/current/match/355991.html|title=ICC World Twenty20 - 1st match, Group B England v Netherlands (scorecard)|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=18 May 2010}}

Records:

• Lord's Cricket Ground second wicket partnership record: 291 with Andrew Strauss, 2004 v West Indies{{cite web|url=http://www.howstat.com/cricket/Statistics/Grounds/GroundPartnerships.asp?GroundCode=040|title=Lord's ground partnership records|publisher=Howstat|access-date=2008-06-24}}
• Wanderers Stadium second wicket partnership record: 182 with Andrew Strauss, 2004–05 v South Africa{{cite web|url=http://www.howstat.com/cricket/Statistics/Grounds/GroundPartnerships.asp?GroundCode=066|title=Wanderers ground partnership records|publisher=Howstat|access-date=2008-06-24}}

Test centuries:

Career performances:

Career performances:

On 17 April 2022, he was appointed as the managing director of the England men's cricket team, stepping down from all of his media commitments.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/61132439|title=Rob Key named England men's managing director|work=BBC Sport|access-date=17 April 2022}} He appointed Brendon McCullum as the coach of the Test Team, who instigated a more attacking form of play coined by the media as "Bazball".{{cite web | url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/england-s-test-reboot-rob-key-pleased-that-bet-on-brendon-mccullum-has-hit-the-test-jackpot-1324786 | title=Rob Key pleased that 'bet' on Brendon McCullum has hit the Test jackpot }}

{{Reflist}}

• {{ESPNcricinfo|id=15876|name=Rob Key}}

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{{Succession box

| before=David Fulton
James Tredwell

|title=Kent County Cricket Club captain

| years= 2006–2012
2014–15

| after= James Tredwell (2013)
Sam Northeast (2016)

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Key, Robert}}

Category:1979 births

Category:Living people

Category:England Test cricketers

Category:England One Day International cricketers

Category:England Twenty20 International cricketers

Category:English cricketers

Category:Kent cricketers

Category:Kent cricket captains

Category:People educated at Colfe's School

Category:Wisden Cricketers of the Year

Category:People from East Dulwich

Category:Cricketers from the London Borough of Southwark

Category:NBC Denis Compton Award recipients

Category:English cricket commentators

Category:Marylebone Cricket Club cricketers

Category:Conservative Party (UK) people

Category:First-Class Counties Select XI cricketers