There will be additional pressure on England batsman Robert Key when he takes the field in the fourth Castle Lager/MTN cricket Test against South Africa, starting at the Wanderers on Thursday.
Not only will he be doing his best to help England win the Test and take a two-one lead in the five-Test series, but he will also be trying to cement his place in the team.
Key was brought into the third Test at Newlands in Cape Town at the last minute, after the more experienced Mark Butcher had to withdraw because of a wrist injury.
On Monday, it was announced that Butcher was not recovering sufficiently quickly, and he was returning to England. Warwickshire’s Ian Bell has been called up to replace Butcher, but Key is almost certain to play in the fourth Test.
”When you get a chance like this, you have to make the most of it, and do what you can to secure your place in the team,” said Key. ”I will feel a bit better playing in the next Test, because my time in the middle at Newlands helped me get back into the Test atmosphere.”
Key went out for nought in the first innings at Newlands, but made 41 runs in the second, to record England’s second-highest second-innings score.
He said he thought the time he had spent in the middle in Cape Town would be of benefit to him at the Wanderers.
”Last week, it was really very last minute. It was touch and go as to whether Butch would play — his injury just suddenly got worse overnight. But when he didn’t bat at practice on Monday, I felt as if I knew what was going on.
”This may be my chance to nail my place down. Hopefully, with two decent wickets, this could be my big opportunity. I just have to make sure that I get some proper runs — not just 30 here or 40 there.”
He said he thinks the break after Cape Town will have helped the England team.
”The families have all gone back now, and it’s more like the build-up to an English Test. It all feels more familiar now.” — Sapa