Key scores in England opening Test

Robert Key exploited the circumstances surrounding his recall in spectacular style to establish England’s stranglehold on the opening Test against the West Indies at Lord’s and present the selectors with another difficult dilemma.

The Kent batsman was the beneficiary of a minor car crash on Monday which gave Mark Butcher whiplash and ended his run of 42 Test appearances, but knew that only a major performance would prevent him being ousted from the England line-up once the Surrey left-hander recovered.

Key finished unbeaten on 167 and dominated West Indies’ bowlers so comprehensively - hitting 23 boundaries during his masterful innings - that a maiden double Test hundred is not beyond him when England resume the second day on 391 for two.