As well as Sky podcasts and columns for Evening StandardKey published an autobiography two years ago, entitled ‘Oi, Key’ – Tales of a Journeyman Cricketer. He told ESPNcricinfo at the time that it contained “a few stories and a few views on the good and bad things” about the game, but with several big decisions to be made over the next two months, some excerpts are now like Key’s. proclamation.
Training
Key was often cynical about the value of coaches, to the point that a chapter in his book called “A Coach is What You Get to the Ground In.” Earlier this year, he hinted that he believed England should split the role into two: a test coach and a white-collar coach. “Essentially, there are three types of coaches,” he wrote. “Those who have a positive influence, those who have a negative influence and those who are neutral. While many coaches would like to see themselves as a positive influence, the truth is that such people are actually few.” Key sees a significant difference between county-level and international-level coaches, suggesting that Peter Moores had difficulty with the step-up because he did not take into account that he “had to do with elite players”. “An international coach is more of a manager,” he writes. “They really do not have to do much. In fact, it is better to do nothing.”
Australian coaches
Key’s careers were influenced by Neil ‘Noddy’ Holder, the batting coach who encouraged him to keep his backlift high, and John Inverarity, who coached him in Kent. Do not be surprised if he hires an Australian to coach England. “Australian coaches, with their ‘can do’ attitude, certainly offer a refreshing and powerful contribution,” he wrote. “They have the ability to trigger small explosions in your head. When the fog clears, you see everything with absolute clarity.” Steve Harmison, Rob Key and Andrew Flintoff starred in England’s 2004 series win over the West Indies • Getty Images
Leader-coach relationship
Key should ensure that the new test leader and his coach do not clash. “[There is] an absolute truth about the dynamics of the leader / coach “, he wrote. “It’s imperative to be on the same page.” It details the failures of England’s 2006-07 Ashes tour, and the weaknesses of Duncan Fletcher’s relationship with Andrew Flindoff. “[Flintoff] “he will end up doing the best he can to make sure this partnership worked,” he wrote. “The question is whether he had to give or take back. “I know how important collaborative thinking is,” he said. “As Kent boss, I found Graham Ford a great coach to work with. … We had a common focus on moving the team forward. Because of our shared drive for improvement, we never really had a conflict.”
Test leader
Key was highly critical of Joe Root’s leadership during England’s Ashes defeat and Ben Stokes is the first favorite to replace him. While some have drawn parallels with Flintoff’s unfortunate tenure as captain, Key’s own view of the time of his close friend in charge shows that this will not stop him. “Fred was a better leader of England than he – and many others – ever believed,” Key wrote. “Conditions were difficult; he simply could not have chosen a worse time to become captain of England. The team had gone from perfect balance in 2005 to Saj Mahmood hitting at number 8. It would always be 5-0. “They were throwing stones at the bazookas.” He is also full of praise for Stokes, who would fit in with Ki’s idea that a captain should be an inspirational figure. “Since the incident at the Bristol nightclub, Ben Stokes has put so much into his game,” he said. “He trains so hard – harder than anyone around him, from a distance. Great talent stands out. He did it for Fred in 2005 and he does it now for Stokes. Without the difficulties, neither of them would have reached these incredible highs. “
White ball leader
Key’s relationship with Eoin Morgan dates back to 2009, when he led the England Lions on a tour of New Zealand. “What I found was a cricketer who never missed a trick,” he wrote. “When the coaches asked who the vice-captain should be, I immediately told Morgs. I saw someone who was not willing to say only what people wanted to say.” They are unlikely to collide too much.
Game style
Key prefers an aggressive style of play in test cricket, which could mean bad news for Alex Lees, Rory Burns and Dom Sibley. “We accuse people of playing too many shots, but as a batsman your only currency in the game is running,” he wrote. “For some reason, we seem to be happier if people are out of the block. “I admire Trevor Bayliss because he believes in positive cricket. His point of view is that it is possible to defend positively but also to attack. That means dedicating yourself to the shots, to having a purpose. is. “Players are often accused of losing their wicket using an aggressive mentality, as if they never go out while playing defensively. ten corkscrews, most of which were just that. “ Rob Key was Kent captain in the 2009 promotion season • Getty Images
county cricket
Perhaps Key’s biggest challenge will be to lead the ECB’s high performance rating in the domestic game. He has previously described a draft schedule for the English season that includes a daily competition in April, a top-of-the-line “best of the rest” tournament running alongside Hundred and three six-team divisions in the Championship. In “Oh, key”, seems to see the game of county through the prism of the England test team, rather than something valuable in itself. “Four days of cricket as a business is completely bankrupt,” Key wrote. “It does not make money and it costs a lot. Compared to other forms, it simply does not make financial sense. “The cricket league really only has one card up its sleeve. Video game rights are linked to test cricket and trial cricket can only survive if there is a player production line from the league. “County cricket only exists because of the money from the test cricket, the England test team only because of the Championship transport zone. . “ Matt Roller is an Assistant Editor at ESPNcricinfo. @ mroller98
