When Rob Key played his 15 Test matches for England, it was during the side’s rise from the gutter to the very top of the Test game.
The latter 10 of those matches included eight wins and one draw, as England charged up the rankings, eventually reaching No 1.
It would be inaccurate to suggest he played an essential role. He scored just the lone century – a double – in that time. But at least he was there while a transformation was taking place.
Now, after being named as the managing director of English cricket, he is tasked with bringing about just the same thing - raising a once proud side back to the top of the game.
Personal experience
Key’s appointment feels like a shot in the dark. He has always talked a very good game, both in the commentary box and in his newspaper column, yet has little management experience beyond his role as a captain of Kent in county cricket.
He does not fit the standard for a sports administrator. That might be no bad thing, but in his previous positions in the media he had all the power with no responsibility. There will certainly be pressure as he attempts to turn around a Test side in the doldrums.
His own playing experiences might prove valuable to draw on. He had a better career than the self-deprecating subtitle of his autobiography – “Tales of a Journeyman Cricketer” – would suggest.
Crucially, he was part of a highly successful England Test side, vacating the team just before they crested with the 2005 Ashes.
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Joe Root has stepped down from his role as England Test captain and talk has begun over who will next step into the position. Swipe or click through the gallery to view five potential candidates. Reuters -
Ben Stokes: Root’s deputy and loyal ally. Said he had no captaincy ambitions on the occasions he was tasked with filling in for his mate. Seems the most likely replacement, but – with England’s next Test seven weeks away – he is under an injury cloud and has a lot of other jobs on his plate at the best of times. Reuters -
Eoin Morgan: England’s World Cup-winning white-ball captain has been vocal about the fact England can – and should – be successful in all three formats of the game. His spell as the limited-overs leader has been transformative, but he last played a Test nearly 10 years ago, so a switch to whites appears far-fetched. PA -
Stuart Broad: Maybe even more far-fetched than Morgan, given he and fellow pace bowling great James Anderson currently appear to be persona non grata. But the fire still burns for Broad, who turns 36 in June, to return. He would be an intriguing choice, even as an interim. AP -
Will Rhodes: Aged 27, Rhodes has a mediocre first-class record, with seven tons in 72 matches and an average of just over 35. However, the Warwickshire captain, who also led England’s Under 19 side at the 2014 World Cup in the UAE, is highly regarded as a leader. Getty -
James Vince: Tried and disregarded as a batter by England, but he has continued to flourish in the county game with Hampshire. A return as Test captain would go against the prevailing thinking in England’s corridors of power – but those corridors are increasingly empty now anyway. Getty
Captain
One of Key’s closest mates during his playing days with England was Andrew Flintoff. In the past, he has defended Flintoff’s own ill-fated captaincy stint, saying he was better than the reviews suggested and that he was handed the job at the worst time anyway.
Flintoff 2.0 – otherwise known as Ben Stokes – appears to be the only viable candidate to take over the job most recently vacated by Joe Root.
Along with Root, Stokes is one of the few guaranteed starters for England’s Test side – even if the captaincy would saddle an already overworked player with yet more responsibility.
Style of play
Stokes’ own experience of captaincy has been limited so far, and he appeared pretty unwilling to take the job on then, anyway.
This summer, England have the small matter of Tests against the world champions, New Zealand, then the postponed fifth game from last year against India.
Fashioning a match-winning side for two such exacting assignments feels a touch unlikely at present – a little like when Flintoff was given the reins of a bruised side in Australia in 2007 – and who were duly battered.
Long-term, though, Key is likely to favour a side committed to aggressive, attacking cricket. Perhaps the New Zealand side who first started their transformation under the bold leadership of Brendon McCullum will be the template.
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England captain Joe Root is consoled by Ben Stokes after losing the third Test - and the series - against West Indies at the National Cricket Stadium in Grenada on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Getty -
West Indies players celebrate after winning the three-match series 1-0. Getty -
Dejected England captain Joe Root after the match. Reuters -
West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite celebrates after defeating England by ten wickets on Day 4 in Grenada. AP -
West Indies' Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell celebrate after beating England. AP -
West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite batting on Day 4. Getty -
West Indies bowler Kemar Roach successfully appeals for the wicket of England's Jack Leach. Getty -
West Indies fielder Jason Holder, right, celebrates after taking the catch to dismiss England's Chris Woakes. AP -
England batsman Chris Woakes of England walks off the field after being dismissed by Kemar Roach for 19. AFP -
West Indies wiciketkeeper Joshua Da Silva celebrates taking the catch to dismiss England's Jack Leach for four. Reuters
Personnel
The idea that England’s teams are on separate pages when it comes to limited overs and Test cricket is summed up by their summer schedule.
Their ODI Super League series in the Netherlands finishes the day before the start of the third Test against New Zealand in Headingley.
Even a fit Stokes would struggle to keep up both those commitments.
Clearly, England’s white ball side – as 50-over world champions and realistic contenders in the T20 game – are the darlings of the game in the country.
Perhaps the Test side could benefit from pursuing players who are, it appears, well suited to the shorter formats.
The likes of Liam Livingstone, Harry Brook and even Will Smeed – who has played more Pakistan Super League matches than he has first-class ones in the UK – might have a future in whites.
Broad and Anderson
Talking of the future, is that definitely now behind Stuart Broad and James Anderson? England’s two leading Test wicket-takers were unceremoniously dumped before England’s lost series in the Caribbean.
Anderson says he has made his peace with it, but that he is craving one more go at it.
In his previous guise as a commentator, Key had suggested they are holding back the development of new-ball bowlers for England – but also that they deserved a fitting send off.
Now he has the power to make that happen, will he push for a recall for the two old greats?
