Key keen to take England chance

ICC WORLD TWENTY20
Venues: Lord's, The Oval, Trent Bridge Date: 5-21 June
Coverage: Test Match Special commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, Radio 4 LW, Red Button and online, with live text commentary on BBC Sport website & mobiles. Live TV coverage on Sky Sports with highlights on BBC

Kent's Key is relishing another opportunity in the national side

Kent captain Rob Key remains confident he will make an impact for England at the ICC World Twenty20, despite some indifferent domestic form.

In the two recent Twenty20 games with Middlesex, the 30-year-old was out for a duck at Lord's and scored just four in the reverse fixture at Canterbury.

But he told BBC Radio Kent: "A few weeks ago I wasn't batting very well, but I feel I'm in decent touch now.

"I believe I'll come good and it'll be a good time to find form."

Despite having home advantage for the tournament, England have very few backers to win the competition.

But that does not bother Key, who led the Spitfires to victory in the domestic Twenty20 in 2007 when they were underdogs. He also took them to the final in 2008.

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"I think it's a great place to be," Key said.

"There's nothing worse than being the favourites when the pressure's all on you to win it. India, South Africa, Australia - they'll all be touted as favourites.

"We [Kent] won the Twenty20 as underdogs and I'd always rather be in that position because you can surprise people, and I think we have a side to do that."

Despite the omission of several Test players - including captain Andrew Strauss - Key believes the selectors have opted for a good mix of experienced and specialist one-day players.

He said: "I like the way they've gone about it, obviously. Time will tell if it's the right way to go, but I think there's potential for me there to surprise a few people."

Key could open the batting with Essex's Ravi Bopara, who is in superb form for club and country at present.