The Kent skipper will hope to score a stack of runs
KENT captain Robert Key leads the England Lions out today in a tour match against New Zealand.
Key, 28, captains the Lions in a three-day game at the Rose Bowl, knowing another good performance against the Kiwis would well and truly put him in the frame for a Test place, should one of the senior batters get injured or dropped.
The skipper, fresh from scoring an unbeaten 178 against the tourists at Canterbury last month, will also be vying for a Test spot with other batsmen such as former Kent opener Michael Carberry, Owais Shah and Ravi Bopapa.
The Black Caps will be without captain Daniel Vettori, who is also a doubt for the First Test with England at Lord’s next Thursday due to an injury to his left index finger, and seamer Kyle Mills who has been given a break.
Brendon McCullum will lead the New Zealanders who will be desperate to get a win and some form with it ahead of their first clash of the summer with England.
Play starts at 11am.
England Lions (from): Rob Key, Michael Carberry, Ravi Bopara, Owais Shah, Matt Prior, Adil Rashid, Graeme Swann, Luke Wright, Chris Tremlett, Graham Onions, Steve Kirby, Matt Hoggard.
New Zealand: Jamie How, Aaron Redmond, James Marshall, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum (capt & wkt), Daniel Flynn, Jacob Oram, Tim Southee, Patel, Iain O'Brien, Chris Martin.
POSTED: 08/05/2008 10:12:40