Nelson's Column: Key issues

Robert Key has confounded his many critics with a sparkling return to form and fitness that has earned him the captaincy of a strong England Lions squad to face New Zealand at the Rose Bowl on 8 May.

But eyebrows shouldn't be raised too much. Key, whose Test career looked to be over after a hit-and-miss tour of South Africa in 2004-05, had a fine season for Kent last year and he has carried that form into the new campaign with a vengeance.

He massacred the Kiwi attack at Canterbury on Monday, hitting 178 not out in a first-day total of 324-1. And let's not forget that Key plundered twin centuries against New Zealand on their last tour of England in 2004.

If he continues to shine both with the bat and as captain of Kent and the Lions, then Michael Vaughan's position could be called into question sooner rather than later.

Vaughan's form with the bat so far this season has been far from impressive, and questions remain about the injuries that have plagued his career in recent years.

And so Key, who impressed as skipper of England A against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, has rightly been handed the chance to enhance his case for a Test recall and who knows, for the captaincy too.

It's a far cry from those days at the turn of the century when Key weighed in at 16 stone and was derided for his expanding waistline.

Does Key deserve a Test recall? Or even the full England captaincy? Have your say via the boxes below.

Comments

[martin chilvers]

team who beat NZ over there deserve a chance, but maybe Hoggard for Anderson. Freddie's not ready- but am concerned about our long tail, esp v SA later in the Summer

[rich]

daniel, it would appear you've mis-spelt "bopara"
it looks like you've put "harmison"

check your spelling next time

[Daniel Costello]

Vaughn should go and Key should definately come in. Freddie wont play a part. My squad would be
Strauss
Cook
Key
Pietersen
Bell
Collingwood
Mustard
Hoggard
Harmison
Sidebottom
Panesar

[John in Maidstone]

Key's a better bet than Vaughan, who looks past it to me after all his injuries. Put Key at three and bopara at four or five. Not too sure about Freddie's fitness either.

[rich]

vaughan should drop out, bringing key in.
bopara HAS to play.
prior has had a great start to the season and has earned a re-call.
IF (a big if) flintoff plays any part this summer he should only be in as a bowler who can bat a bit.

strauss
cook
key
pietersen
collingwood
bopara
bell
prior
broad
sidebottom
hoggard
monty

theres the 12 man squad id pick for the first test, but who gets left out????