Key appointed as new England men’s managing director

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 one T20 for England, will take on the role after former national team spinner Giles was among those to depart in the wake of the winter’s dismal Ashes series.

Key, who will relinquish his punditry role with Sky Sports to take up the position, joins at a time with England seeking a new Test captain following Joe Root’s decision to step down and a permanent head coach, and is excited to be entrusted with this responsibility.

“It is an absolute honour to take up this role,” Key said. “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.

“I have absolutely loved my time at Sky and I could never have imagined leaving were it not for this incredible opportunity. I’d like to personally thank Bryan Henderson and everyone in the team for their help and support.

“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.

“With two of our teams near or at the top of the world rankings and an undoubted amount of talent in our game, I hope to try and bring everyone along for the ride so we can all help take English men’s cricket to new heights across all formats.”

Former Kent captain Key is a hugely respected figure in the game and his highlights on the international stage included making a Test double hundred against the West Indies at Lord’s in 2004 which led to him being named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 2005, having been part of the England side which won the U19 World Cup in 1998.

During a playing career from 1998 to 2015, Key amassed over 28,000 runs with 60 centuries. He captained Kent twice from 2006 to 2012 and then again for the final two years of his career. During his time as skipper, the side won the County Championship Second Division title in 2010 and reached three white-ball domestic finals.

After announcing his retirement in 2016, Key became a commentator for Sky Sports alongside writing a regular column for the Evening Standard. He remained involved in the administration side of the game and has previously sat on the ECB’s Performance Cricket Committee.

Along with overseeing the appointment of a new captain and head coach, Key will be responsible for the strategy behind the England men’s cricket teams and the performance pathways leading into them

“Following a thorough recruitment process, Rob stood out in a very competitive field,” Tom Harrison, ECB chief executive officer said. “His passion and knowledge of the game at domestic and international level is outstanding.

“He is a proven leader and combines an approachable nature with fresh original thinking and resilience which will stand him in good stead. He will bring a lot to the role and I am sure players and staff alike will enjoy working with Rob. I have no doubt he will relish the challenge before us.

“I’d like to thank Andrew for agreeing to step back into the role on an interim basis. To have someone of his experience and skillset during the transition and recruitment process was invaluable. He remains a huge asset to English and Welsh Cricket.”