Former England batsman Rob Key had previously expressed interest in the job and will succeed Ashley Giles in the role; Key’s first jobs will include the appointment of a new England Test captain and head coach.
Rob Key is the male CEO of New England
Rob Key has been appointed as the new managing director of England men’s cricket, succeeding Ashley Giles in the role.
The 42-year-old, who played 15 Tests, five one-day internationals and a T20 for England, will take on the role after former national team player Giles was among those who departed following the winter’s dismal Ashes series.
Key, who will relinquish his role as expert with sky sports to take over, he joins as England look for a new trial captain following Joe Root’s decision to step down and a permanent head coach, and he’s thrilled to be entrusted with this responsibility.
“It is an absolute honor to take on this role,” Key said. “The opportunity to make an impact and make a difference is an opportunity given to very few and I will give everything I have to try and shape the next great era of English men’s cricket.
“I loved my time at Sky and could never have imagined leaving if it wasn’t for this amazing opportunity. I would like to personally thank Bryan Henderson and everyone on the team for their help and support.
“Although right now it has been a challenging time in English cricket, I also think it is the most exciting time I can remember.
“With two of our teams near or at the top of the world rankings and an undoubted amount of talent in our game, I look forward to trying to bring everyone together so we can all help take English men’s cricket to new heights around the world.” . formats”.
Former Kent captain Key is a highly respected figure in the game and his highlights on the international stage included making a two-hundred Test against the West Indies at Lord’s in 2004, which saw him being named one of the players Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2005. having been part of the England squad that won the Under-19 World Cup in 1998.
During a playing career from 1998 to 2015, Key amassed more than 28,000 runs with 60 centuries. He captained Kent twice from 2006 to 2012 and then again for the last two years of his career. During his time as skipper, the team won the County Championship Second Division title in 2010 and reached three national white ball finals.
After announcing his retirement in 2016, Key became a commentator on sky sports in addition to writing a regular column for the evening standard. He remained involved in the administrative side of the game and previously sat on the ECB’s Cricket Performance Committee.
As well as overseeing the appointment of a new captain and head coach, Key will be responsible for the strategy behind England’s men’s cricket teams and the performance pathways leading to them.
“After a thorough recruitment process, Rob stood out in a very competitive field,” said Tom Harrison, Chief Executive Officer of the ECB. “His passion for him and knowledge of the game nationally and internationally is outstanding.
“He is a proven leader and combines an approachable nature with fresh, original thinking and a resilience that will serve him well. He will bring a lot to the role and I am sure the players and staff alike will enjoy working with Rob. enjoy the challenge that lies ahead.
“I would like to thank Andrew for agreeing to return to the role on an interim basis. Having someone with his experience and skills during the transition and recruitment process was invaluable. He continues to be a great asset to English and Welsh Cricket.”
Rob Key, speaking on Sky’s Cricket podcast in February:
“I would split training. Not because it’s a lot of work, but because it’s two very different teams at two different times. [white-ball] the team could use a facilitating coach who can continue to deliver what they are doing but challenge them.
“The test team needs a completely different style of coach – a driver of culture and environment. The most important thing is the mentality, which I think has been very poor.”
Nasser Hussain on Sky Sports News:
“I think the ECB has made an excellent choice. I don’t know who the other candidates were, but I’ve worked with Rob for the last six years and while he sometimes plays dumb, he isn’t.”
“There are times when he has said things on air or in the back of the box and you think ‘this lad knows his cricket’. He is absolutely a cricket man through and through; his daughter plays in the Kent age groups, has played and captained Kent, and has played for England.
“I think England have made a good choice, he is an excellent cricketer and has a very good cricketing brain.
“I’ve already seen tweets and comments about ‘jobs for the boys’ and those asking how much management you’ve done before. It’s a management role, that’s correct, but I’d rather have a cricket person as a cricket MD, someone who understands the game unlike someone who can make a great PowerPoint presentation. He will have to work on the administrative side.
“He’s very player-friendly, and the players will be pleased that Rob Key is England’s new MD, but he’s going to have to be tough on the players and he’s going to have to say no to them sometimes.
