Key appointed new Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket

The first step to return English cricket back to the top of  the international game has been revealed with Rob Key named as the ECB’s new managing director.

Former England batter Key has previously stated that he had expressed interest in the role, and succeeds Ashley Giles who was sacked in the aftermath of the Ashes debacle.

Key, 42, will leave his role with Sky Sports immediately after being the number one choice to help fulfill Andrew Strauss’s vision of England being the number one ranked side in all formats of the game. Key worked for Sky as a commentator since his retirement from the game in 2015.

The former Kent captain has played 15 tests, five one day internationals and one T20 for England and scored a double hundred against the West Indies at Lords in 2004, as well as scoring over 28,000 runs in his career.

While Strauss’s position was an interim one this is a permanent position for the likeable Key. It will also be his biggest challenge yet, with England desperate to get back to the heavy heights of where they should be in international cricket.

Behind the jokey style of Key, lies somebody with a very sharp cricket brain with strong views on the game, but this is a tough challenge for Key.

The first task for Key will be to appoint a new Test captain. Ben Stokes appears to be the overwhelming favourite after Joe Root’s resignation on Friday.

“It is an absolute honour to take up this role. The chance to have an impact and make a difference is an opportunity given to very few and I will give it everything I have to try shape the next great era of English men’s cricket”, said Key. “Although at this current moment it has been a challenging time in English cricket, I also think it’s as exciting a time as I can remember”.

While England’s white ball cricket appears to be healthy, it is the red ball version of the game which is in dire need of a shake up.

In Test cricket, England have won just once in 17 matches and have plunged right to the bottom of the World Test Championship, and that is a serious cause for concern.

England have enjoyed just one 12 month period as the world’s number one test side since 1980, and this needs to be addressed quickly.

Key will have plenty of problems to sort out in his bulging in-tray. But if it is enthusiasm that it takes and determination to get England back to the top, appointing Key may be the right way forward.

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